Layered double hydroxide (LDH) based photocatalysts: An outstanding strategy for efficient photocatalytic CO₂ conversion

CO₂ conversion to solar fuels/chemicals is an alluring approach for narrowing critical issues of global warming, environmental pollution, and climate change, caused by excess atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Amongst various CO₂ conversion strategies, photocatalytic CO₂ conversion (PCC) is considered as a promising approach, which utilizes inexpensive sunlight and water with a photocatalyst material. Hence, development of an efficient and a stable photocatalyst is an essential activity for the respective scientific community to upscale the PCC research domain. Until today, metal oxides, such as TiO₂, ZnO, etc., are categorized as standard photocatalysts because of their relative stability, abundant availability and low cost. However, their performance is tethered by limited light absorption and somewhat physical properties. Recently, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have offered an exciting and efficient way for PCC due to their superb CO₂ adsorption and moderate photocatalytic properties. The LDH based photocatalysts show marvelous physiochemical and electrical properties like high surface area, stability, and excellent conductivity. In the present review article, a summarized survey is portrayed regarding latest development for LDH based photocatalysts with a focus on synthesis strategies employing various photocatalyst materials, influencing parameters and possible mechanism involved in PCC to useful fuels and chemicals like CO, CH₄, CH₃OH, and H₂.