High-Yield Synthesis of Ultralong and Ultrathin Zn2GeO4 Nanoribbons toward Improved Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 into Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuel

Single-crystalline Zn(2)GeO(4) nanobelts with lengths of hundreds of micrometers, thicknesses as small as ∼7 nm, and aspect ratios of up to 10,000 were synthesized in a binary ethylenediamine/water solvent system using a solvothermal route. The ultralong and ultrathin geometry of the Zn(2)GeO(4) nanoribbon proves to greatly promote the photocatalytic activity toward reduction of CO(2) into renewable hydrocarbon fuel (CH(4)) in the presence of water vapor.