A biomimetic all-inorganic photocatalyst for the artificial photosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide

The artificial photosynthesis of H2O2 from water and O-2 presents a sustainable route for its production. Remarkable progress in the rate of reaction has recently been achieved mainly by using semiconducting organic polymer photocatalysts. In view of the use under harsh oxidative conditions, the development of robust inorganic photocatalysts is highly desired. Here we present a photocatalyst with the unit consisting of a single Au particle and an interconnected cluster of SnO2 nanocrystals with the surface modified with SbCl3 (Au@SnO2-Sb(iii)). Under visible-light irradiation (lambda(ex) = 420 nm), Au@SnO2-Sb(iii) stably produces H2O2 with a rate of 6.1 mM g(-1) h(-1) and an external quantum yield of 1.1%. This striking photocatalytic activity of Au@SnO2-Sb(iii) originates from the action of SnO2-Sb(iii) as a light antenna and electron transporter, the electrocatalytic activity of Au NPs for the two electron-oxygen reduction reaction, the visible-light induced activity of SnO2-Sb(iii) for the oxygen evolution reaction, the weak adsorptivity for H2O2, and the robustness.

Automated summary

The artificial photosynthesis of H2O2 from water and O-2 is a sustainable route for its production. Recent advancements have been made in the rate of reaction by using semiconducting organic polymer photocatalysts, but there is a need for robust inorganic photocatalysts. In this study, a photocatalyst consisting of a single Au particle and an interconnected cluster of SnO2 nanocrystals, modified with SbCl3, is presented. The photocatalyst shows stable production of H2O2 under visible-light irradiation, with high photocatalytic activity.