Photocatalytic CO2 reduction over copper-based materials: A review

Problems brought about by climate change dictate the reestablishment of our outlook on energy production. Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high value-added chemicals is a promising method to alleviate the energy and environmental dilemma. Recently, Cu-based materials have been widely utilized for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 because they can fully absorb visible light and convert it into high value-added chemicals. In this review, the current progress of Cu-based materials will be discussed based on the products, including photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into CO and the other organic chemicals. Various modification techniques are highlighted for improving the photocatalytic performance of Cu-based photocatalysts. Furthermore, the opportunities, challenges, and future research direction of the application of Cu-based materials for photocatalytic CO2 reduction are given, aiming at the proper design of more creative Cu-based photocatalytic systems for practical applications with a green and sustainable strategy.