Amine-Functionalized ZnO Nanosheets for Efficient CO2 Capture and Photoreduction

• Main Authors: Liao, Yusen, Hu, Zhaoning, Gu, Quan, Xue, Can
• Other Authors: School of Materials Science & Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: CO2 reduction; Photocatalysis; Solar fuels; Zinc oxide
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/81046; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/39111
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Amine-functionalized ZnO nanosheets were prepared through a one-step hydrothermal method by using monoethanolamine, which has a hydroxyl group, for covalent attachment on ZnO and a primary amine group to supply the amine-functionalization. We demonstrate that the terminal amine groups on ZnO surfaces substantially increase the capability of CO2 capture via chemisorption, resulting in effective CO2 activation. As a result, the photogenerated electrons from excited ZnO can more readily reduce the surface-activated CO2, which thereby enhances the activity for photocatalytic CO2 reduction.