Core-shell LaPO4/g-C3N4 nanowires for highly active and selective CO2 reduction

•Novel 1D LaPO4/g-C3N4 core-shell nanocomposites.•Enhanced photocatalytic CO2 photoreduction performance.•High photostability and selectivity.•Not any novel-metal loading.

We have synthesized a series of LaPO4/g-C3N4 core-shell nanowires via an in-situ hydrothermal growth of LaPO4 nanorods in tubular g-C3N4 and investigated their photocatalytic activity in CO2 reduction. It was found that in the synthesized core-shell structure, the outer g-C3N4 nano-shells coated on the LaPO4 nanorod cores resulted in the enhanced light absorption and charge carrier separation/transfer ability, thus improved the room temperature photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposites in CO2 photocatalytic reduction compared with the g-C3N4 and LaPO4 individuals. A maximum CO yield of 0.433 μmol has been obtained from CO2 reduction within 1 h irradiation on 30 mg nanocomposite photocatalyst under the absence of any noble metal. Finally, a possible mechanism, which is featured with LaPO4 activation due to significantly promoted separation/transfer of photo-generated charge carriers, was proposed. The encouraging performance in CO2 photoreduction demonstrates that this novel nanocomposite will be a prospective material in environmental protection and energy conversion.

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