Hierarchical Z-scheme Fe2O3@ZnIn2S4 core-shell heterostructures with enhanced adsorption capacity enabling significantly improved photocatalytic CO2 reduction

The challenge of sunlight-driven CO2 reduction is to achieve efficient photocatalysts with exceptional molecule adsorption ability and efficient charge-separation efficiency. Herein, 3D hierarchical Z-scheme Fe2O3@ZnIn2S4 core-shell nanorods are reasonably designed and synthesized and directly used as Z-scheme CO2 photoreduction catalysts. The Fe2O3@ZnIn2S4 core-shell nanorods exhibited a CO evolution rate of 37.13 mu mol g(-1) h(-1), which is 2.15 times higher than that of the pristine ZnIn2S4 layers. The upgraded photocatalytic activity can be ascribed to the unique 3D hierarchical structure and efficient CO2 adsorption capacity, as well as the improved separation efficiency of charge carriers. This work may create new opportunities for developing other highly active complex hierarchical Z-scheme photocatalysts.