Preparation of a Cu(BTC)-rGO catalyst loaded on a Pt deposited Cu foam cathode to reduce CO in a photoelectrochemical cell

To increase the reaction productivity and selectivity of the CO 2 photoelectrochemical reduction reaction, a Cu (benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid [BTC])-reduced graphite oxide (rGO) catalyst was prepared by using a facile hydrothermal method and used in a CO 2 photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) as a cathode catalyst. Characterization of the catalyst proved that successfully bonding of rGO to Cu(BTC) not only facilitated faster transfer of electrons on the surface of the catalyst but also created more active sites. CO 2 photoelectrochemical reduction experimental results showed that the total carbon atom conversion rate was up to 3256 nmol h −1 cm −2 which was much higher than when pure Cu(BTC) was used as a cathode catalyst. The liquid product's selectivity to alcohols was up to 95% when −2 V voltage was applied to the system with Cu(BTC)-rGO used as the cathode catalyst. Schematic of a photoelectrochemical cell for CO 2 reduction: the H + generation process and the CO 2 process run in two separated chambers respectively.