Enhanced CO2 photoreduction to CO by small-size NH2-UiO-66 nanoparticles immobilization on Mo2C

Abstract

The small-size and efficient charge separation of MOFs catalysts are essential for improving photocatalytic performance. In this work, a series of small-size NH2-UiO-66 nanoparticle-modified Mo2C photocatalysts were successfully prepared by hydrothermal synthesis with in situ growing NH2-UiO-66 on the surface of Mo2C. The addition of Mo2C can not only obtain small-size NH2-UiO-66 nanoparticles, but also significantly increase the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers and prolongs the carrier lifetime, thereby promoting the photoreduction of CO2 in water vapor with excellent stability. The resulting 11-Mo2C/NH2-UiO-66 (11-MCNU) exhibits excellent catalytic activity for CO2 reduction to CO product at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The yield of CO can reach 11 μmol g−1 in the absence of organic solvents, sacrifice agents and photosensitizers, which is much higher than that of the isolated NH2-UiO-66 and Mo2C.