Vacancy-defect promoting blue LED-driven H2O2 synthesis on Zn0.4Cd0.6S without additional cocatalysts

Abstract

Photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide offers an effective solution to the energy crisis. The design and development of high-activity and low-cost photocatalysts are crucial for H2O2 production. In this work, Zn0.4Cd0.6S with abundant S vacancies (SV-ZCS) is developed for H2O2 photosynthesis under 405 nm LED illumination without additional cocatalysts. The S vacancies serve as photo-generated electron trap centers, effectively extending the lifetimes of photogenerated carriers and promoting the separation of photoelectric carriers. Additionally, SV-ZCS is endowed with enhanced light capture capability, enhancing the overall photocatalytic activity for H2O2 production. The results were in line with expectations, the SV-ZCS samples demonstrated a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) productivity of 3902 μmol L-1 h-1 when subjected to visible light irradiation, representing a significant increase compared to that of ZCS (2840 μmol L-1 h-1 ). This work provides an effective strategy for preparing photocatalysts for efficient hydrogen peroxide production.