Enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance of Cu-Doped ZnO: synthesis, characterization, and mechanistic insights

In this study, we utilized in situ infrared spectroscopy to comprehensively analyze the behavior of copper-doped zinc oxide (Cu-ZnO) in photocatalytic CO 2 reduction reactions. By pyrolyzing copper-doped ZIF-8 precursors, we achieved a uniform distribution of copper within the zinc oxide matrix. Experiments conducted under simulated sunlight conditions demonstrated that Cu-ZnO exhibits enhanced activity and selectivity in the conversion of CO 2 to CO compared to undoped ZnO. The findings from in situ infrared spectroscopy indicate that copper doping significantly improves the material's ability to adsorb and activate CO 2 , thereby enhancing its photocatalytic performance. This study has developed the application of in situ infrared spectroscopy in surface catalysis and provided a new direction for exploring the catalytic mechanism of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction.