Bi₂S₃/Eu‐Bi₁₂O₁₇CL₂ Nanosheets for Photocatalytic Reduction of CO₂ to CO

ABSTRACT Two‐dimensional (2D) Eu‐Bi 12 O 17 Cl 2 nanosheet binary composites modified by Bi 2 S 3 nanocrystals were constructed at room temperature using a simple in situ anion‐exchange strategy with pure carbon disulfide as a direct sulfur source. The method is simple to prepare, energy efficient, and easy to handle compared to conventional treatments. These biphasic composites were thoroughly characterized by a batch of analytical techniques. XRD, FT‐IR, Raman, TEM, and XPS spectroscopies verified the coexistence of the two components in the composites, with Bi 2 S 3 uniformly distributed in irregularly shaped nanocrystals of Eu‐Bi 12 O 17 Cl 2 nanosheets to form intimate interfacial contacts in the heterojunction domain. In addition, oxygen vacancies can be created during the vulcanization process. The synthesized Bi 2 S 3 /Eu‐Bi 12 O 17 Cl 2 composites exhibit high photocatalytic efficiency for CO 2 as well as high selectivity for CO under visible‐light irradiation. A feasible photocatalytic mechanism was also proposed and tested for reusability. This study reveals the construction of robust Bi 2 S 3 ‐containing composites with sufficient oxygen vacancies and enhanced photocatalytic capabilities under moderate conditions.