Photo-induced CO2 reduction by CH4/H2O to fuels over Cu-modified g-C3N4 nanorods under simulated solar energy

Copper modified polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (Cu/g-C3N4) nanorods for photo-induced CO2 conversion with methane (CH4) and water (H2O) as reducing system under simulated solar energy has been investigated. The nanocatalysts, synthesized by pyrolysis and sonication, were characterized by XRD, FTIR, Raman analysis, XPS, SEM, N2 adsorption-desorption and PL spectroscopy. The presence of Cu2+ ions over the g-C3N4 structure inhibited charge carriers recombination process. The results indicated that photo-activity and selectivity of Cu/g-C3N4 photo-catalyst for CO2 reduction greatly dependent on the type of CO2-reduction system. CO2 was efficiently converted to CH4 and CH3OH with traces of C2H4 and C2H6 hydrocarbons in the CO2-water system. The yield of the main product, CH4 over 3 wt.% Cu/g-C3N4 was 109 μmole g-cata.−1 h−1 under visible light irradiation, significantly higher than the pure g-C3N4 catalyst (60 μmole/g.cat). In photo-induced CO2-CH4 reaction, CO and H2 were detected as the main products with smaller amount of hydrocarbons. The highest efficiency was detected over 3 wt.%Cu-loading of g-C3N4 and at optimal CH4/CO2 feed ratio of 1.0. The maximum yield of CO and H2 detected were 142 and 76 μmole g-catal.−1 h−1, respectively at selectivity 66.6% and 32.5%, respectively. Significantly enhanced CO2/CH4 reduction over Cu/g-C3N4 was attributed to its polymeric structure with efficient charge transfer property and inhibited charges recombination rate. A proposed photo-induced reaction mechanism, corroborated with the experimental data, was also deliberated