Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide splitting on metal-free powders assisted by phosphoric acid as a stabilizer

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has received increasing attention as an energy carrier. To achieve a sustainable energy society, photocatalytic H2O2 splitting (H2O2 (l) -> H-2 (g)+ O-2 (g); Delta G degrees = + 131 kJ mol(-1)) is a desirable reaction for on-site H-2 generation. However, this reaction has not been reported because conventional photocatalysis decomposes H2O2 by disproportionation (H2O2 (l) -> H2O (l) + H2O2 (g); Delta G degrees = -117 kJ mol(-1)) and by promoting H2O2 reduction instead of H+ reduction. Here we report the successful example of H2O2 splitting. Visible light irradiation of a graphitic carbon nitride loaded with graphene quantum dots as co-catalysts (GQDs/g-C3N4) in a H2O2 solution containing phosphoric acid (H3PO4) produces H-2. H3PO4 associates with H2O2 via hydrogen bonding, and this stabilization of H2O2 suppresses its reduction, thus promoting H+ reduction. The all-organic photosystem with H3PO4 as a stabilizer may provide a basis of photocatalytic H2O2 splitting.