Core-shell LaPO₄/g-C₃N₄ nanowires for highly active and selective CO₂ reduction

We have synthesized a series of LaPO₄/g-C₃N₄ core-shell nanowires via an in-situ hydrothermal growth of LaPO₄ nanorods in tubular g-C₃N₄ and investigated their photocatalytic activity in CO₂ reduction. It was found that in the synthesized core-shell structure, the outer g-C₃N₄ nano-shells coated on the LaPO₄ nanorod cores resulted in the enhanced light absorption and charge carrier separation/transfer ability, thus improved the room temperature photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposites in CO₂ photocatalytic reduction compared with the g-C₃N₄ and LaPO₄ individuals. A maximum CO yield of 0.433 μmol has been obtained from CO₂ reduction within 1 h irradiation on 30 mg nanocomposite photocatalyst under the absence of any noble metal. Finally, a possible mechanism, which is featured with LaPO₄ activation due to significantly promoted separation/transfer of photo-generated charge carriers, was proposed. The encouraging performance in CO₂ photoreduction demonstrates that this novel nanocomposite will be a prospective material in environmental protection and energy conversion.