Pd nanocubes/In2O3/hollow carbon microspheres with ultra-low interface resistance of Ohmic contact for efficient CO2 photoreduction

Abstract

The utilization of CO2 photoreduction into valuable hydrocarbon fuels presents a promising avenue for mitigating climate change and providing a sustainable energy source. However, photogenerated carriers are highly prone to recombination, which adversely affects photocatalytic activity. In our study, we introduce a novel photocatalyst synthesis method, featuring an Ohmic contact (OC) structure that incorporates biomass-derived hollow carbon microspheres (HCM), Pd nanocubes (NC), and Indium Oxide (In2O3) through a simple yet effective thermal reduction method. This modification significantly enhances the photocatalytic efficiency of the Pd NC/In2O3/HCM (donated as PIC) system, achieving an optimal value of 496.89 μmol∙g−1 over 5 h without the need for additional additives, 8.7-fold higher than that of the pristine In2O3. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that the substantial enhancement in CO2 photoreduction performance can be attributed to the ultra-low resistance (122 Ω) interfaces within the PIC system, facilitating accelerated transfer of photogenerated electrons. This work provides a strategy for boosting CO2 photoreduction efficiency by the reduction of interface resistance to promote rapid photogenerated electron migration.