Method for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 using a microporous crystalline metal sulfide photocatalyst

A process for the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide carried out in the liquid phase and/or in the gas phase, said process comprising:

• a) bringing a charge containing carbon dioxide and at least one sacrificial compound into contact with a photocatalyst comprising at least one semiconductor based on microporous crystalline metal sulfide;
• and
• b) irradiating the photocatalyst by at least one irradiation source producing at least one wavelength which is lower than the bandgap width of said photocatalyst, said irradiating being carried out at a temperature of between −10° C. and 200° C. and at a pressure of between 0.01 MPa and 70 MPa;
• wherein said photocatalyst is provided in the form of a solid comprising a chemical composition expressed on an anhydrous basis, in terms of moles, by the following formula:
• XaYbS8:cR
• where:
• X represents at least one tetravalent element selected from Sn, Ge, Ti, and Zr,
• Y represents at least one divalent metal selected from Zn, Cd, and Ni,
• R represents at least one nitrogenous organic entity,
• S is sulfur,
• “a” is the molar amount of X and is between 0.1 and 5;
• “b” is the molar amount of Y and is between 0.2 and 8;
• “c” is the molar amount of the nitrogenous organic entity R and is between 0 and 4.