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Enhancing photocatalytic H2O2 production with Au co-catalysts through electronic structure modification

Author

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  • Xidong Zhang

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Duoduo Gao

    (Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Bicheng Zhu

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Bei Cheng

    (Wuhan University of Technology)

  • Jiaguo Yu

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Huogen Yu

    (China University of Geosciences)

Abstract

Gold-based co-catalysts are a promising class of materials with potential applications in photocatalytic H2O2 production. However, current approaches with Au co-catalysts show limited H2O2 production due to intrinsically weak O2 adsorption at the Au site. We report an approach to strengthen O2 adsorption at Au sites, and to improve H2O2 production, through the formation of electron-deficient Auδ+ sites by modifying the electronic structure. In this case, we report the synthesis of TiO2/MoSx-Au, following selective deposition of Au onto a MoSx surface which is then further anchored onto TiO2. We further show that the catalyst achieves a significantly increased H2O2 production rate of 30.44 mmol g−1 h−1 in O2-saturated solution containing ethanol. Density functional theory calculations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveal that the MoSx mediator induces the formation of electron-deficient Auδ+ sites thereby decreasing the antibonding-orbital occupancy of Au-Oads and subsequently enhancing O2 adsorption. This strategy may be useful for rationally designing the electronic structure of catalyst surfaces to facilitate artificial photosynthesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Xidong Zhang & Duoduo Gao & Bicheng Zhu & Bei Cheng & Jiaguo Yu & Huogen Yu, 2024. "Enhancing photocatalytic H2O2 production with Au co-catalysts through electronic structure modification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47624-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47624-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Yaning Zhang & Chengsi Pan & Gaoming Bian & Jing Xu & Yuming Dong & Ying Zhang & Yang Lou & Weixu Liu & Yongfa Zhu, 2023. "H2O2 generation from O2 and H2O on a near-infrared absorbing porphyrin supramolecular photocatalyst," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 361-371, April.
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