Construction of spindle structured CeO2 modified with rod-like attapulgite as a high-performance photocatalyst for CO2 reduction

In this study, a spindle structured CeO2 photocatalyst modified with rod-like attapulgite (CeO2/ATP) was successfully prepared by simple high temperature calcination. ATP was deposited in the precursor solution of CeO2 and then heating up the mixture afforded the CeO2/ATP photocatalyst. The photocatalyst showed remarkable reduction efficiency for CO2. CO (309.44 mu mol g(-1) h(-1)) and CH4 (184.33 mu mol g(-1) h(-1)) are the major products for CO2 reduction obtained by using the optimum proportion of the CeO2/ATP photocatalyst; the yield of CO and CH4 was about 3 and 3.6 times higher than that of CeO2, respectively. The improvement in the CO2 reduction efficiency originated from the higher conductivity of ATP, which promoted electron transport and enhanced the separation efficiency of the electron holes. At the same time, the introduction of ATP inhibited the accumulation of CeO2 and also increased the active sites for CO2 reduction. Moreover, a possible photocatalytic mechanism for the CO2 reduction reaction was proposed based on the experimental results. In addition, this study provides new insights for the simple preparation of other photocatalysts with high performance for CO2 reduction.