Design of faceted 0D/1D CeO2/ZnO S-scheme heterostructures for solar-driven methanol production
Efficient solar-driven conversion of CO2 into value-added chemical presents a promising approach to addressing climate change and energy scarcity. However, sluggish charge carrier kinetics remain a significant barrier to effective CO2 photoreduction. In this study, a solvothermal method is employed...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Applied Surface Science Advances |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523925000893 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850137095794851840 |
|---|---|
| author | Hazina Charles Plassidius J. Chengula Jiyeon Seo Caroline Sunyong Lee |
| author_facet | Hazina Charles Plassidius J. Chengula Jiyeon Seo Caroline Sunyong Lee |
| author_sort | Hazina Charles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Efficient solar-driven conversion of CO2 into value-added chemical presents a promising approach to addressing climate change and energy scarcity. However, sluggish charge carrier kinetics remain a significant barrier to effective CO2 photoreduction. In this study, a solvothermal method is employed to synthesize facet-engineered CeO2/ZnO nanorod (NRs) S-scheme heterojunctions for the selective photoreduction of CO2 to methanol under mild conditions. Comprehensive characterization confirms the successful deposition and stability of CeO2 nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO NRs. Among the synthesized photocatalysts, the composite with 0.2 mmol CeO2 exhibits the best performance, yielding 111 µmol·g₋1, 176 µmol·g₋1, 311 µmol·g₋1, and 304 µmol·g₋1·h₋1 for H2, CO, CH4, and CH3OH, respectively, with a notable CO2 selectivity of approximately 89 %. Mechanistic analysis reveals that optimized CeO2 loading induces an internal electric field, facilitating an S-scheme heterojunction charge-transfer pathway that enhances electron mobility from the ZnO NRs to CeO2. In-situ FT-IR spectroscopy further identifies key intermediates (HCOO* and H3CO*) involved in the transformation of CO2 to CH3OH. This work demonstrates a novel photocatalyst design that leverages precise CeO2 loading onto ZnO NRs, offering a promising strategy for efficient and selective CO2 photoreduction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c9c5378ddad44a3bbd6ed5a3eb3cd843 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-5239 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Surface Science Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-c9c5378ddad44a3bbd6ed5a3eb3cd8432025-08-20T02:30:56ZengElsevierApplied Surface Science Advances2666-52392025-06-012710078110.1016/j.apsadv.2025.100781Design of faceted 0D/1D CeO2/ZnO S-scheme heterostructures for solar-driven methanol productionHazina Charles0Plassidius J. Chengula1Jiyeon Seo2Caroline Sunyong Lee3Department of Materials and Chemical Engineering. Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Materials and Chemical Engineering. Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Materials and Chemical Engineering. Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of KoreaCorresponding author.; Department of Materials and Chemical Engineering. Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of KoreaEfficient solar-driven conversion of CO2 into value-added chemical presents a promising approach to addressing climate change and energy scarcity. However, sluggish charge carrier kinetics remain a significant barrier to effective CO2 photoreduction. In this study, a solvothermal method is employed to synthesize facet-engineered CeO2/ZnO nanorod (NRs) S-scheme heterojunctions for the selective photoreduction of CO2 to methanol under mild conditions. Comprehensive characterization confirms the successful deposition and stability of CeO2 nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO NRs. Among the synthesized photocatalysts, the composite with 0.2 mmol CeO2 exhibits the best performance, yielding 111 µmol·g₋1, 176 µmol·g₋1, 311 µmol·g₋1, and 304 µmol·g₋1·h₋1 for H2, CO, CH4, and CH3OH, respectively, with a notable CO2 selectivity of approximately 89 %. Mechanistic analysis reveals that optimized CeO2 loading induces an internal electric field, facilitating an S-scheme heterojunction charge-transfer pathway that enhances electron mobility from the ZnO NRs to CeO2. In-situ FT-IR spectroscopy further identifies key intermediates (HCOO* and H3CO*) involved in the transformation of CO2 to CH3OH. This work demonstrates a novel photocatalyst design that leverages precise CeO2 loading onto ZnO NRs, offering a promising strategy for efficient and selective CO2 photoreduction.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523925000893CO2 photoreductionMethanol (CH3OH) productionCharge transfer pathwaySurface-modified photocatalystsCO2 desorption |
| spellingShingle | Hazina Charles Plassidius J. Chengula Jiyeon Seo Caroline Sunyong Lee Design of faceted 0D/1D CeO2/ZnO S-scheme heterostructures for solar-driven methanol production Applied Surface Science Advances CO2 photoreduction Methanol (CH3OH) production Charge transfer pathway Surface-modified photocatalysts CO2 desorption |
| title | Design of faceted 0D/1D CeO2/ZnO S-scheme heterostructures for solar-driven methanol production |
| title_full | Design of faceted 0D/1D CeO2/ZnO S-scheme heterostructures for solar-driven methanol production |
| title_fullStr | Design of faceted 0D/1D CeO2/ZnO S-scheme heterostructures for solar-driven methanol production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design of faceted 0D/1D CeO2/ZnO S-scheme heterostructures for solar-driven methanol production |
| title_short | Design of faceted 0D/1D CeO2/ZnO S-scheme heterostructures for solar-driven methanol production |
| title_sort | design of faceted 0d 1d ceo2 zno s scheme heterostructures for solar driven methanol production |
| topic | CO2 photoreduction Methanol (CH3OH) production Charge transfer pathway Surface-modified photocatalysts CO2 desorption |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523925000893 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hazinacharles designoffaceted0d1dceo2znosschemeheterostructuresforsolardrivenmethanolproduction AT plassidiusjchengula designoffaceted0d1dceo2znosschemeheterostructuresforsolardrivenmethanolproduction AT jiyeonseo designoffaceted0d1dceo2znosschemeheterostructuresforsolardrivenmethanolproduction AT carolinesunyonglee designoffaceted0d1dceo2znosschemeheterostructuresforsolardrivenmethanolproduction |