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Fabricating 2D/2D/2D heterojunction of graphene oxide mediated g-C3N4 and ZnV2O6 composite with kinetic modelling for photocatalytic CO2 reduction to fuels under UV and visible light

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Abstract

Two dimensional (2D) reduced-graphene-oxide/g-C3N4 modified 2D ZnV2O6 heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction has been investigated. The catalysts were fabricated using one-pot solvothermal method and were tested in a fixed-bed reactor under visible and UV-light. The ZnV2O6/RGO/g-C3N4 composite catalyst demonstrated excellent photoactivity for CO2 reduction to CO and hydrocarbons under visible light. The maximum CO yield rate of 2802.9 μmol g−1 h−1 was obtained over the composite, which is 7.4 and 1.7 times higher than using g-C3N4 and ZnV2O6, respectively. The improved activity attributing to synergistic effect of 2D layer heterojunction with enhanced charges separation by RGO mediator under visible light. Comparatively, 2 times lower productivity was obtained under UV-light than visible-light due to higher visible-light absorption. The time-dependent kinetic-model was further developed to understand the influence of photocatalytic oxidation and reduction processes on the reaction chemistry. The model is based on Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) mechanism to understand the formation rates of products during photocatalytic CO2 conversion with water vapours. Kinetic reveals surface reaction is a rate limiting step, which depends on the generation of charge carrier with higher light absorption. The findings from the experimental and kinetic-model would be useful to understand photo-catalytic reaction engineering in solar energy applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their deepest appreciation to University Technology Malaysia for financial support of this research under Fundamental Research (UTMFR, Q.J130000.2551.21H66) and Long Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS, Vot R.J130000.7851.4L900).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

    Abdullah Bafaqeer, Muhammad Tahir, Nor Aishah Saidina Amin & Mohd Azizi Che Yunus

  2. School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia

    Abdul Rahman Mohamed

  3. Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Hadhramout University, Al-Mukalla, Hadhramout, Yemen

    Abdullah Bafaqeer

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  1. Abdullah Bafaqeer
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Correspondence to Muhammad Tahir.

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Bafaqeer, A., Tahir, M., Amin, N.A.S. et al. Fabricating 2D/2D/2D heterojunction of graphene oxide mediated g-C3N4 and ZnV2O6 composite with kinetic modelling for photocatalytic CO2 reduction to fuels under UV and visible light. J Mater Sci 56, 9985–10007 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-05906-1

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