Well-designed 1D/2D Ag₃VO₄/Fe₂TiO₅ type-II heterojunction with enhanced interfacial charge separation for visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO₂ conversion

The photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ into valuable energy resources is vital for sustainable development, yet designing photocatalysts with efficient carrier separation through simple methods remains a significant challenge. In this study, a type-II heterostructure of Ag₃VO₄/Fe₂TiO₅ was successfully synthesized via in situ conversion at room temperature. By leveraging the unique advantages of a 1D/2D layered structure, this heterostructure promotes close interfacial contact and enhances the transport of photogenerated charges, leading to a substantial improvement in photocatalytic performance. Among the synthesized materials, Ag₃VO₄/40 %Fe₂TiO₅ demonstrated the highest efficiency, achieving a CH₄ yield of 365.9 μmol/gcat over 4 h under solar light irradiation, it is 1.7 and 1.4 folds higher than Fe₂TiO₅ and Ag₃VO₄, respectively. This improvement is primarily attributed to the efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated charges facilitated by the type-II heterojunction between Ag₃VO₄ nanorods and Fe₂TiO₅ nanosheets. Comprehensive characterization techniques were employed to investigate the structural, morphological, optical, and electrochemical properties of the photocatalysts, and a detailed photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. Additionally, the composite photocatalyst exhibited excellent stability and recyclability, retaining its performance after four cycles. This study offers a promising approach for the development of type-II heterojunctions for efficient CO₂ photoconversion.