CHAPTER 16: Artificial Photosynthesis by 3D Graphene-based Composite Photocatalysts

The importance of photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ in the presence of water to either renewable fuels (e.g., methane and methanol) or valuable chemicals (e.g., formaldehyde and formic acid) by harnessing solar energy is increasingly being recognized to simultaneously address our impending global energy and environmental crises in an economically sustainable manner. 3D graphene-based composites (GBCs) hold great promise as effective catalyst supports for such artificial photosynthesis applications, offering long optical path lengths for greater light absorption and rapid spatial separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. This chapter would target this aspect among others, with an objective to provide a systematic overview of the recent progress in the development and application of 3D GBC-based photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction to solar fuels. Furthermore, it would segregate and identify the key gaps in the specific domain knowledge, and lay out novel strategic research guidelines for making further advances in this promising approach to a hitherto sustainable development.