Enhanced CO2 Reduction Performance of BiCuSeO-Based Hybrid Catalysts by Synergetic Photo-Thermoelectric Effect

Gaseous CO₂ reduction driven by solar energy is a promising solution to the current energy crisis and environmental problems. Although thermocatalysts, electrocatalysts, and photocatalysts are developed as classical strategies for CO₂ reduction, it remains a challenge for high efficiency and CO₂ net reduction during this process. Here, a multi-field driven hybrid catalyst, Pt/ZnO nanorod arrays/Bi_1-xEr_xCuSeO, is designed using the photo-thermoelectric effect, which can take advantage of both photocatalysis and thermocatalysis. The results indicate that the maximum CO production rate of 2.91 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 423 K can be realized in such Pt/ZnONR/Bi_0.9Er_0.1CuSeO hybrid catalyst, as can be ascribed to a synergetic photo-thermoelectric effect (i.e., light irradiation can provide heat, photo-excited carriers, and the concomitant Seebeck voltage). The band alignment of ZnO/BiCuSeO heterojunction and carriers transport are proposed to be optimized by the Er doped BiCuSeO thermoelectric supports, greatly enhancing the catalytic performance. The application of thermoelectric support could be promising in the structure design of multi-field driven hybrid catalysts, and such a photo-thermoelectric catalytic process demonstrates a desirable way of solar energy utilization in CO₂ transformation.