Artificial visible light-induced H2O2 production using polymeric K/O-doped carbon nitride as a catalyst

Abstract

In an attempt to improve the decrease in H2O2 yield, resulting from slow electron transfer, availability of limited active sites for reaction, and low O2 activation of pristine polymeric carbon nitride (PCN), we fabricated a K/O-modified PCN photocatalyst with a high specific surface area and high O2 activation ability. A synergy between K and O dopants in PCN aided in reducing the reaction energy barrier of the •OOH intermediate species, thereby allowing PCN to exhibit a high H2O2 yield under white LED light 4428.3 μmol g-1h−1), almost 28 times higher in comparison to that obtained for the pristine PCN. The solar-to-chemical conversion (SCC) efficiencies in the presence of modified PCN were respectively equal to 0.05 % and 0.52 % under white LED light in pure water and ethanol solution (ethanol, 10 vol%). Additionally, the modified PCN exhibited a quite wide optical response. The apparent quantum yields (AQYs) of our modified PCN in ethanol were equal to 23.52 % and 1.19 % at 385 and 520 nm, respectively. Polymeric K/O-doped carbon nitride can therefore be utilized as a potential catalyst for artificial visible light-induced H2O2 production.