Synthesis of InP quantum dots loaded on Ti3C2Tx MXene for high-efficiency photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production in water

Most photocatalysts reported to date require sacrificial agents to achieve high-efficiency photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2 . Developing photocatalysts for H 2 O 2 production without sacrificial agents remains a significant challenge. In this study, we proposed an interfacial Schottky junction consisting of InP quantum dots (QDs) and Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets for photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2 without relying on any sacrificial agents. The InP/Ti 3 C 2 T x photocatalyst demonstrated high efficiency in generating H 2 O 2 , even when tested in wastewater and tap water. The photocatalytic rate of 5InP/Ti 3 C 2 T x reached 21.31   mmol   g⁻¹ h⁻¹, which is 112 times greater than InP QDs. The 5InP/Ti 3 C 2 T x catalyst achieved a degradation performance of 99.9% for acid orange 7. The photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2 was effectively utilized in actual wastewater to decrease chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels. The COD concentration was decreased to 67   mg   L −1 , well below the permissible threshold set by China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment for coking chemical industry emissions. As far as we know, no prior study has documented the application of InP in the photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2 within actual wastewater. This research explores the applications and impacts of InP compounds in the field of photocatalysis. This work introduces a novel approach for sacrificial agent-free photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production, offering a significant advancement in the field.