Phenolic resin/cadmium selenide heterojunctions for efficient hydrogen peroxide production with broad-spectrum light utilization

Abstract

The efficient and sustainable production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via solar-driven photocatalysis is hindered by poor charge separation and limited light absorption. To address these challenges, we present a novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst composed of cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles and phenolic resin (RF523). The integration of RF523 with CdSe promotes efficient charge separation by generating a built-in electric field, reducing electron-hole recombination. This design enhances both the oxidation and reduction capabilities of the materials and expands spectral absorption to the near-infrared region (800 nm), which is underutilized in conventional systems. The RF/CdSe-100 composite demonstrated a remarkable H₂O₂ production rate of 888.9 μmol·h⁻¹ under full-spectrum light, outperforming mechanically mixed samples by a factor of 2.0. Additionally, the composite exhibited broad-spectrum light absorption, with an apparent quantum yield of 19.0 % under 365 nm light and 1.7 % under 800 nm light, highlighting its ability to efficiently utilize a wide range of solar energy. The photocatalytic mechanism is driven by the S-scheme charge transfer process, enhancing redox efficiency and promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for H₂O₂ production. This work offers an efficient strategy for solar-driven H₂O₂ synthesis, advancing the design of photocatalysts for renewable energy and environmental applications.