Highly efficient photocatalytic H2O2 production by tubular g-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 nanosheet heterojunctions via improved charge separation

Hydrogen peroxide is an environment-friendly reactive oxygen species and a significant green oxidant. However, the highly efficient and sustainable production of H 2 O 2 remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrated a state-of-the-art photocatalytic method for H 2 O 2 production using an optimal tubular graphic carbon nitride (TCN)/ZnIn 2 S 4 (ZIS) heterojunction. Within 3 h, a H 2 O 2 production rate of 2.77 mmol g −1 h −1 was achieved by the TCN/ZIS heterojunction, which is 3.4- and 23.1-fold higher than that obtained by its individual TCN and ZIS components, respectively. Experimental results showed that the excellent photoactivity of TCN/ZIS is mainly due to the formation of heterojunction, which improves the charge separation ability and thereby promotes the proton-coupled electron transfer by initially reducing O 2 to ·O 2 − and subsequently generating H 2 O 2 . This work has developed an efficient and green strategy for H 2 O 2 production with scientific and practical value for environmental remediation.