Exploring the Roles of Single Atom in Hydrogen Peroxide Photosynthesis

Kelin He; Zimo Huang; Chao Chen; Chuntian Qiu; Yu Lin Zhong; Qitao Zhang

doi:10.1007/s40820-023-01231-1

Exploring the Roles of Single Atom in Hydrogen Peroxide Photosynthesis

Nanomicro Lett. 2023 Nov 20;16(1):23. doi: 10.1007/s40820-023-01231-1.

Authors

Kelin He^#^{1

2}, Zimo Huang^#^{2

3}, Chao Chen¹, Chuntian Qiu⁴, Yu Lin Zhong⁵, Qitao Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
² Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4222, Australia.
³ Institute for Sustainable Transformation, School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 51006, China.
⁴ ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311215, China. qiuct@zju.edu.cn.
⁵ Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4222, Australia. y.zhong@griffith.edu.au.
⁶ International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China. qitao-zhang@szu.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

This comprehensive review provides a deep exploration of the unique roles of single atom catalysts (SACs) in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production. SACs offer multiple benefits over traditional catalysts such as improved efficiency, selectivity, and flexibility due to their distinct electronic structure and unique properties. The review discusses the critical elements in the design of SACs, including the choice of metal atom, host material, and coordination environment, and how these elements impact the catalytic activity. The role of single atoms in photocatalytic H₂O₂ production is also analysed, focusing on enhancing light absorption and charge generation, improving the migration and separation of charge carriers, and lowering the energy barrier of adsorption and activation of reactants. Despite these advantages, several challenges, including H₂O₂ decomposition, stability of SACs, unclear mechanism, and low selectivity, need to be overcome. Looking towards the future, the review suggests promising research directions such as direct utilization of H₂O₂, high-throughput synthesis and screening, the creation of dual active sites, and employing density functional theory for investigating the mechanisms of SACs in H₂O₂ photosynthesis. This review provides valuable insights into the potential of single atom catalysts for advancing the field of photocatalytic H₂O₂ production.

Keywords: Catalyst design and optimization; H2O2 photosynthesis; Single atom catalysts.

Publication types

Review