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 H₂O₂ 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 H₂O₂ production. Under photoexcitation, carbonyl groups on the photocatalyst surface are reduced, forming an anion radical intermediate. The produced intermediate is oxidized by O₂ to produce H₂O₂ and subsequently restores the carbonyl group. The high catalytic efficiency is ascribed to a photocatalytic redox cycle mediated by the radical anion, which

SUBMITTER: Chi W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11535368 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature