Electronic Tuning of SnO2 by rGO Nanosheets for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Evolution

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) photocatalyticproductionfrom saturated oxygen and water in solar irradiation is an eco-friendly,sustainable, and safe process. Tin dioxide (SnO2) is apromising photocatalyst with excellent light absorption and a lowband-gap energy. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) can promote charge separationand reduce photogenerated charge recombinations. Here, we representdifferent concentrations of the rGO dopant in SnO2 thatenhance the absorption in the visible range and reduce the energyband gap. rGO-SnO2 successfully promotes water oxidationby 2e reduction of O-2, producing hydrogen peroxide. Compositematerials enhance the H2O2 yield in the presenceof an organic electron donor (OED). The catalyst shows excellent enduranceunder different acidic conditions. Among all concentrations of rGO(0.5, 1, 2, and 4 wt %), 0.5 wt % rGO-SnO2 showsa more efficient H2O2 production in the presenceof oxalic acid, as a stabilizer and an organic electron donor. Finally,we affirm a strategy to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide productionregarding charge separation, light absorption, and surface catalyticreaction in an acidic environment. Our work provides valuable guidanceto design efficient photocatalysts for H2O2 generationby an insight mechanism. Thispaper presents a nanocomposite of SnO2 andreduced graphene oxide (rGO) in the presence of an OED for sustainablephotocatalytic H2O2 production and decomposition,contributing to green energy and environmental remediation.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the successful production of H2O2 by introducing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) into SnO2, which enhanced light absorption and reduced the energy band gap. Among different concentrations of rGO, 0.5wt% rGO-SnO2 showed the highest H2O2 yield. The findings provide valuable guidance for designing efficient photocatalysts for H2O2 generation.