Converting Organic Wastewater into CO Using MOFs-Derived Co/In₂O₃ Double-Shell Photocatalyst

The photocatalytic conversion of organic wastewater into value-added chemicals is a promising strategy to solve the environmental issue and energy crisis. Herein, Co/In2O3 nanotubes with a double-shell structure, as a highly efficient photocatalyst, are synthesized by a one-step calcination method. The Co/In2O3 heterostructure shows an outstanding photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance of 4902 μmol h–1 g–1. Notably, these Co/In2O3 photocatalysts also achieve CO2 self-generation and in situ reduction conversion in acid organic wastewater (phenol solution), in which the high CO2 (47.5 μmol h–1 g–1) and CO (0.9 μmol h–1 g–1) evolution rates are demonstrated under solar irradiation. Transient photovoltage (TPV) tests demonstrate that Co nanoparticles on Co/In2O3 double-shell heterostructure serve as the CO2 reduction sites for the effective capture and stabilization of the photogenerated electrons.