Encapsulated CdSe/CdS nanorods in double-shelled porous nanocomposites for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Abstract Colloidal quantum dots have been emerging as promising photocatalysts to convert CO 2 into fuels by using solar energy. However, the above photocatalysts usually suffer from low CO 2 adsorption capacity because of their nonporous structures, which principally reduces their catalytic efficiency. Here, we show that synchronizing imine polycondensation reaction to self-assembly of colloidal CdSe/CdS nanorods can produce micro-meso hierarchically porous nanocomposites with double-shelled nanocomposites. Owing to their hierarchical pores and the ability to separate photoexcited electrons, the self-assembled porous nanocomposites exhibit remarkably higher activity (≈ 64.6 μmol g −1 h −1 ) toward CO 2 to CO in solid-gas regime than that of nonporous solids from self-assembled CdSe/CdS nanorods under identical conditions. Importantly, the length of the nanorods is demonstrated to be crucial to correlate their ability to long-distance separation of photogenerated electrons and holes along their axial direction. Overall, this approach provides a rational strategy to optimize the CO 2 adsorption and conversion by integrating the inorganic and organic semiconductors.