Solar-to-H2 O2 Energy Conversion by the Photothermal Effect of a Polymeric Photocatalyst via a Two-Channel Pathway.

ABSTRACT

With a view to using solar energy, the exploitation of near-infrared (NIR) light, which constitutes about 50 % of solar energy, in photocatalytic H2 O2 synthesis remains challenging. In this study, resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF), which has a relatively low bandgap and high conductivity, is introduced for photothermal catalytic generation of H2 O2 under ambient conditions. Owing to the promoted surface charge transfer rate under high temperature, the photosynthetic yield reaches roughly 2000 µm within 40 min under 400 mW cm-2 irradiation with a solar-to-chemical conversion (SCC) efficiency of up to 0.19 % at 338 K under ambient conditions, exceeding the rate of photocatalysis with a cooling system by a factor of about 2.5. Notably, the H2 O2 produced by RF during photothermal process was formed via a two-channel pathway, leading to the overall promotion of H2 O2 formation. The resultant H2 O2 can be applied in situ for pollutant removal. This work offers a sustainable and economical route for the efficient formation of H2 O2 .