CO2 was photocatalytic reduction to formic acid by Cu/BiYO3 under visible-light.
The oxygen vacancies were formed in Cu/BiYO3.
The separation of photo-generated carriers of BiYO3 was improved by doping with Cu.
The Cu/BiYO3 has a better electronic transmission capacity than the BiYO3.
The photocatalytic activity of BiYO3 was enhanced by doping with Cu.