Enhanced solar induced photo-thermal synergistic catalytic CO2 conversion by photothermal material decorated TiO2.

Abstract Semiconductor material with narrow bandgap is an ideal photo-thermal conversion material because of its high absorption intensity in infrared region. Here, CuS/TiO 2 composites were synthesized based on UV-responsive TiO 2 compound with narrow bandgap semiconductor material CuS for CO 2 conversion under full-spectrum irradiation. The experimental results showed that 2% CuS/TiO 2 exhibited higher photocatalytic CO 2 reduction efficiency due to the solar induced photo-thermal synergistic effect. CuS can absorb and convert infrared light into heat energy, which promotes the utilization range of sunlight for CO 2 conversion. In-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) was used to explain the photocatalytic mechanism at the molecular level. This work suggested a feasible way for integrated utilization of solar energy by narrow bandgap semiconductor compounds with TiO 2 to convert CO 2. Graphical abstract CuS/TiO 2 exhibited higher photocatalytic efficiency of CO 2 reduction due to the solar induced photo-thermal synergistic effect. Image 1 Highlights • CuS/TiO 2 composites were synthesized. • CuS/TiO 2 showed enhanced photo-thermal synergistic catalytic activity. • In-situ FT–IR was used to explain the photocatalytic mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]