Bismuth-based Z-scheme structure for photocatalytic CO2 reduction: A review

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels, utilizing inexhaustible solar energy to simulate natural photosynthesis, is a promising approach to simultaneously alleviate environmental issues and energy crises. Among the developed photocatalysts, bismuth (Bi)-based materials have been extensively applied for photocatalytic CO2 reduction due to their unique electronic configuration and excellent physicochemical properties. Various approaches have been investigated to enhance the photocatalytic performance of Bi-based photocatalysts for CO2 reduction, among which constructing direct or indirect Z-scheme by coupling Bi-based materials with matching semiconductors is an effective method. In this review, the latest major advancements in the design of high-efficient Bi-based Z-scheme photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO2 reduction are summarized, including structural engineering strategies for direct Z-scheme and several patterns of indirect Z-scheme construction. Moreover, the proposed S-scheme structure based on the Z-scheme structure is also briefly discussed. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of the future development of the Bi-based Z-scheme structure for CO2 photoreduction are also presented and discussed.