Dimension‐Matched Zinc Phthalocyanine/BiVO₄ Ultrathin Nanocomposites for CO₂ Reduction as Efficient Wide‐Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalysts via a Cascade Charge Transfer

Abstract

Abstract Cascade charge transfer was realized by a H‐bond linked zinc phthalocyanine/BiVO 4 nanosheet (ZnPc/BVNS) composite, which subsequently works as an efficient wide‐visible‐light‐driven photocatalyst for converting CO 2 into CO and CH 4 , as shown by product analysis and 13 C isotopic measurement. The optimized ZnPc/BVNS nanocomposite exhibits a ca. 16‐fold enhancement in the quantum efficiency compared with the reported BiVO 4 nanoparticles at the excitation of 520 nm with an assistance of 660 nm photons. Experimental and theoretical results show the exceptional activities are attributed to the rapid charge separation by a cascade Z‐scheme charge transfer mechanism formed by the dimension‐matched ultrathin (ca. 8 nm) heterojunction nanostructure. The central Zn 2+ in ZnPc could accept the excited electrons from the ligand and then provide a catalytic function for CO 2 reduction. This Z‐scheme is also feasible for other MPc, such as FePc and CoPc, together with BVNS.