Lewis acid activated CO2 reduction over a Ni modified Ni-Ge hydroxide driven by visible-infrared lightElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c8dt04408b

Improvement of light harvesting and reaction kinetics is of great importance for achieving efficient solar-driven CO 2 reduction. Here, a Ni modified low-crystalline Ni-Ge containing hydroxide with Lewis acid sites was synthesized in highly reductive NaBH 4 solution and exhibited 9.3 μmol g cat. −1 h −1 CO and 3.5 μmol g cat. −1 h −1 CH 4 generation rates under visible light irradiation, and even achieved a 3.8 μmol g cat. −1 h −1 CO evolution under infrared light irradiation. The wide-spectrum light harvesting resulted from the light absorption from the localized surface plasmonic resonance of Ni nanoparticles. In addition, the Lewis acid can activate C&z.dbd;O bonds to decrease the kinetic barriers of CO 2 reduction. The design concept that rationally combines the advantages of expanding the spectral response and activating CO 2 may offer a new strategy for efficient solar energy utilization. Improvement of light harvesting and reaction kinetics is of great importance for achieving efficient solar-driven CO 2 reduction.