Weak Light H2O2 Photosynthesis from H2O and O2 by Carbon Nitrides with Piezoelectric Effect for Tumor Therapy

Abstract

Artificial photocatalysis could be the choice of technology for producing H2O2 considering the abundant sunlight exposure in global regions. However, despite recent technological advances, current catalyst systems still remain challenging that the need for high density sunlight, poor selectivity/activity and unfavourable thermodynamics. Here, we reported that carbon nitride with extended conjugation C5N2 harness piezoelectric-effect to both change the selectivity/activity of WOR and photogenerated charge kinetics in non-sacrificial H2O2 production. Here, C5N2 achieves a H2O2 photosynthesis rate of 918.4 µM/h and a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 2.6% under a weak sunlight (0.1 sun) and ultrasonic irradiation. Additionally, C5N2 exhibited by far the highest piezocatalytic H2O2 synthesis activity at rates up to 480.1 µM/h. The new strategy was further applied to efficient SPCDT and water purification in low density light input conditions. This work not only presents piezoelectric-effect of carbon nitride to harness the selectivity/activity of WOR and the migration/transport of photogenerated charges as an available innovative concept in energy, but also sheds light on rising potentials in health and environment.