A β-cyclodextrin Modified Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Au Co-Catalyst for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Abstract

Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production has attracted considerable attention as a renewable and environment-friendly method to replace other traditional production techniques. The performance of H2O2 production remains limited by the inertness of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) towards the adsorption and activation of O2. In this work, a photocatalyst comprising of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified CN with supporting Au co-catalyst (Au/β-CD-CN) has been utilized for effective H2O2 production under visible light irradiation. The static contact angle measurement suggested that β-CD modification increased the hydrophobicity of the CN photocatalyst as well as its affinity to oxygen gas, leading to an increase in H2O2 production. The rate of H2O2 production reached more than 0.1 mM/h under visible-light irradiation. The electron spin resonance spectra indicated that H2O2 was directly formed via a 2-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) over the Au/β-CD-CN photocatalyst.

Recent progress in the design of photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis system

“…Besides the pure g-C 3 N 4 reaction, another H 2 O 2 synthesis pathway (•OH +•OH→H 2 O 2 ) also plays a key role in the polyimide modified g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets ( Yang et al, 2017 ). In another publication, it was found that the modification of g-C 3 N 4 by β-cyclodextrin can increase its hydrophobicity and affinity for oxygen, thus increasing the yield of H 2 O 2 ( Figure 4D ) ( Zuo et al, 2020 ).…”

“…(C) Photocurrent response of g-C 3 N 4 /BDI 50 and g-C 3 N 4 /PDI 51 in 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 solution under visible light (λ >420 nm) at a bias of 0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl ( Kofuji et al, 2016 ). (D) The water contact angle of Au/β-CD-CN ( Zuo et al, 2020 ).…”

Copper(II)-β-cyclodextrin immobilized on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets as a highly effective catalyst for tandem oxidative amidation of benzylic alcohols

“…During recent years, β-CD special features and ability of creation complex have attracted major attention in the areas of food 35 , medicine 36 , textile 37 , cosmetology 38 , enantiomeric separation 39 , environmental remediation 40 , chemical sensing 41 , and catalysis 42 . Combining CN with various metal supported β-CD structures for catalytic and photocatalytic reactions have become an attractive strategy in improving the performance of reactions 43 , 44 . For example, in the study performed by Zuo and et al in 2020, Au nanoparticles were coordinated on β-CD modified g-C 3 N 4 .…”

“…For example, in the study performed by Zuo and et al in 2020, Au nanoparticles were coordinated on β-CD modified g-C 3 N 4 . This nanocomposite was used in the photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide 43 . Herein, CN was functionalized by β-CD/Cu(II) and this modification was performed by 1,3-dibromopropane as a linker.…”

Nano-Photocatalytic Materials: Possibilities and Challenges

“…The reactions promoted by photocatalysis can constitute new synthesis pathways. G. Zuo et al [ 13 ] studied the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide under visible light with heterostructures that consisted of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) and a Au co-catalyst. They focused on the modification of this heterostructure with β-cyclodextrin to improve the hydrophobicity as well as oxygen adsorption of CN.…”