1D-based nanostructures in photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Abstract

Air pollution and global warming have aroused great interest in CO₂ conversion research, as CO₂ is the most important greenhouse gas. Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CRR) is a key carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology aimed at transforming CO₂ into valuable products like fuels and chemicals. However, many semiconductor photocatalysts used in CRR face challenges such as low optical absorption, poor charge carrier separation, and electron-hole recombination, leading to low reaction yields. Some important solutions to these issues include reducing nanostructure dimensions, cocatalyst decoration, as well as metal/nonmetal doping, and heterojunction construction. One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures like nanorods, nanotubes, nanowires, and nanofibers are prominent photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction process due to their excellent light absorption capability, high electron-hole separation efficiency, high aspect ratio, and abundant exposed active surface sites. In this research, after studying CO₂ reduction mechanism, we first discuss 1D nanomaterials growth methods based on the growing environment. Types of 1D nanostructures in photocatalytic CRR, have been also investigated. Two main strategies to improve 1D-based photocatalysts in CRR including surface modification and heterojunction construction are reviewed. Finally, the report presents some important challenges of the CRR and their solutions for future applications.