Upcycling of Pb from lead smelting residues to lead halide perovskite for piezocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

Organic lead halide perovskite is a promising piezocatalyst for piezocatalytic H2 production, meanwhile, large amount of unutilized lead resources in lead smelting residues have caused ecological security and resource waste problems. Here, we report an efficient Pb upcycling approach to recover lead halides from lead smelting residues to create lead halide perovskites (r-FAPbBr3-xIx), distinguished by the remarkable piezoelectric properties, for piezocatalytic H2 evolution. Zinc impurities, concurrently from these residues, found their utilization in the partial substitution of Pb2+ within the halide octahedra of r-FAPbBr3-xIx. The intervention of zinc enhancing desorption of hydrogen from r-FAPbBr3-xIx and culminating in a pronounced H2 yield as 157.80 μmol·g−1·h−1. Notably, the used r-FAPbBr3-xIx that lost its functional prowess could be regenerated and exhibited a piezocatalytic capacity similar to its initial state, perpetuating a sustainable cycle of utility. This pioneering route to Pb upcycling furnishes an alternative avenue for the preparation and utilization of lead-based perovskites.