Remarkable CO2 photocatalytic reduction enabled by UiO-66-NH2 anchored on flower-like ZnIn2S4

The utilization of renewable solar energy for the photocatalytic transformation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable chemical substances is considered an optimal strategy to simultaneously address climate challenges and tackle energy scarcity. Herein, we prepared heterojunction photocatalysts UiO-66-NH₂/ZnIn₂S₄, which were successfully applied in the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂. The yield of the main product CO, for the optimal UiO-66-NH₂/ZnIn₂S₄-2 sample could reach up to 57 μmol g⁻¹h⁻¹ when converting CO₂ under the visible light irradiation, which was approximately 3.35 and 2.71 times higher than that achieved by the individual UiO-66-NH₂ and ZnIn₂S₄ samples, respectively. The better photocatalytic performance of the UiO-66-NH₂/ZnIn₂S₄-2 composites can be attributed to its synergistic effect resulting from tight interfacial contacts, special charge transfer pathways and excellent CO₂ adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the intimate contact between UiO-66-NH₂ and flower-like ZnIn₂S₄ accelerates electron transmission while effectively suppressing the quenching of photogenerated carriers. This research provides vital knowledge for the rational design of heterostructures aimed at enhancing the efficiency of CO₂ photocatalysis for solar fuel production.