A photocatalytic redox cycle over a polyimide catalyst drives efficient solar-to-H2O2 conversion

Abstract Circumventing the conventional two-electron oxygen reduction pathway remains a great problem in enhancing the efficiency of H 2 O 2 photosynthesis. A promising approach to achieve outstanding photocatalytic activity involves the utilization of redox intermediates. Here, we engineer a polyimide aerogel photocatalyst with photoreductive carbonyl groups for non-sacrificial H 2 O 2 production. Under photoexcitation, carbonyl groups on the photocatalyst surface are reduced, forming an anion radical intermediate. The produced intermediate is oxidized by O 2 to produce H 2 O 2 and subsequently restores the carbonyl group. The high catalytic efficiency is ascribed to a photocatalytic redox cycle mediated by…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22172064, 22136002, 22376083
• GO
  Government of Jiangsu Province

  Award: BK20220023
• JU
  Jiangnan University