Enhanced performance of photocatalytic CO2 reduction via synergistic effect between chitosan and Cu:TiO2

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction is considered as a feasible approach for solving greenhouse effect and energy shortage. Promoting electron migration and inhibiting electron-hole recombination are key challenges for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Here, we successfully synthesized Cu:TiO2-CS composite as photocatalyst by a facile solvothermal method to improve the high-catalytic effect on CO2 reduction. The as-prepared composite exhibits excellent photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance under 300 W xenon lamp irradiation, with the yields of CO and CH4 up to 4.48 mol/g and 5.34 mol/g, which is 10 times higher than that of TiO2. This impressive amelioration can be attributed to the synergy of organic polymer (chitosan) and inorganic material (Cu:TiO2). This work may provide a constructing guidance in designing the composite photocatalyst concerning CO2 photocatalytic reduction.