LAUSR

Abstract Strontium titanate nanocube-dispersed mesoporous silica (STO(NC)-MPS) nanocomposite was examined as a photocatalyst for the photoreduction of CO2. Copper (Cu) was examined as a co-catalyst, and the results showed that it was effective for the production of CO under a flow of CO2 and UV irradiation in water. As confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, 13CO was produced in the presence of 13CO2, thus demonstrating that CO was generated upon photoreduction of CO2. Simultaneous formation of O2 suggested that water acted as a reductant in the photocatalysis process. Moreover, Cu supported on STO(NC)-MPS showed higher selectivity toward CO2 reduction when compared with Cu-supported composite prepared from mesoporous silica and SrTiO3 that was synthesized by conventional solid state reaction. Thus, the current findings highlight the characteristics and advantages of SrTiO3 nanocubes and their nanocomposites with mesoporous silica as photocatalysts for CO2 photoreduction.