Novel <scp>Cu₂O</scp>/<scp>Bi₂WO₆</scp> composite for the photoreduction of <scp>CO₂</scp> to fuel

Abstract In this study, Cu 2 O was prepared using a one‐step reduction method, and Bi 2 WO 6 was uniformly mixed with Cu 2 O in various proportions to obtain Cu 2 O/Bi 2 WO 6 composites with different Bi 2 WO 6 contents. The prepared samples (Cu 2 O and Cu 2 O/Bi 2 WO 6 ) were used as photocatalytic materials in the photo‐reductive conversion of CO 2 into CH 4 and CO. The morphology, microstructure, and chemical composition of the obtained photocatalysts were investigated using a series of characterization methods, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the photoreduction of CO 2 using the prepared samples was studied under low‐power visible LED lights irradiation (blue LED and green LED) to save energy. Experimental results showed that Cu 2 O/Bi 2 WO 6 with a 3:1 ratio possessed the optimal properties, yielding 27.4 μmol g −1 of methane and 30.6 μmol g −1 of carbon monoxide under green light.