Poly (triphenylamine)-decorated UIO-66-NH2 mesoporous architectures with enhanced photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction and H2 evolution

• Synergy of PTPA/UIO-66-NH2 nanocomposite in photocatalytic CO2 reduction and hydrogen evolution. • PTPA could trap photoexcited electrons, therefore the recombination between electrons and holes was efficiently inhibited. • The electrons are abundant in the interface of PTPA and UIO-66-NH2, this can effectively boost the photocatalytic activity. • The possible reduction mechanism over the nanocomposites was discussed. Particulate MOFs having poor ability to capture CO 2 and inferior photocatalytic efficiency due to the severe aggregation of such materials. The present work demonstrates that the conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) combined with MOFs can be employed as efficient photocatalysts in particulate photocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen evolution. Varying the percentage of Poly (triphenylamine)—PTPA and UIO-66-NH 2 , the reduction of CO 2 and evolution of H 2 can thus be adjusted. The obtained photocatalysts exhibit superior photoelectrochemical properties which are important for proceeding the photocatalytic process. This study extends the application of both CMPs and UIO-66-NH 2 in photocatalytic fields and other photocatalytic systems.