FeP modified polymeric carbon nitride as a noble-metal-free photocatalyst for efficient CO₂ reduction

Developing efficient CO₂ reduction catalysts is essential not only for artificial photosynthesis but also for solving the energy crisis and global warming problems. We have successfully prepared a heterostructure of iron phosphide (FeP) modified polymeric carbon nitride (CN), which was used as a noble-metal-free photocatalyst for CO₂ reduction. The optimized FeP/CN composite displays a maximum CO evolution rate of 5.19 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, which is 5.5 times that of pristine CN. FeP nanoparticles effectively facilitate the charge separation and play the role of active sites for CO₂ photoreduction. This work provides an active FeP/CN nanocomposite photocatalyst highly potential for CO₂ reduction.