Catalysis

Composite number

Engineering

Photochemistry

Materials science

Carbon fibers

Chemical engineering

Solar fuel

Visible spectrum

Artificial photosynthesis

Quantum efficiency

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Doping

Charge carrier

Composite material

Chemistry

Nanostructure

Photocatalysis

Optoelectronics

Nature Communications

Photocatalytic formation of hydrocarbons using solar energy via artificial photosynthesis is a highly desirable renewable-energy source for replacing conventional fossil fuels. Using an l -cysteine-based hydrothermal process, here we synthesize a carbon-doped SnS 2 (SnS 2 -C) metal dichalcogenide nanostructure, which exhibits a highly active and selective photocatalytic conversion of CO 2 to hydrocarbons under visible-light. The interstitial carbon doping induced microstrain in the SnS 2 lattice, resulting in different photophysical properties as compared with undoped SnS 2 . This SnS 2 -C photocatalyst significantly enhances the CO 2 reduction activity under visible light, attaining a photochemical quantum efficiency of above 0.7%. The SnS 2 -C photocatalyst represents an important contribution towards high quantum efficiency artificial photosynthesis based on gas phase photocatalytic CO 2 reduction under visible light, where the in situ carbon-doped SnS 2 nanostructure improves the stability and the light harvesting and charge separation efficiency, and significantly enhances the photocatalytic activity.

Carbon-doped SnS2 nanostructure as a high-efficiency solar fuel catalyst under visible light