Hydrogen peroxide splitting on Nafion-coated graphene quantum dots/carbon nitride photocatalysts

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has received growing interest as an energy carrier. For the development of a sustainable energy society using H2O2 as a hydrogen carrier, the photocatalytic H2O2 splitting into H-2 and O-2 is a desirable reaction for the generation of H-2. This reaction, however, is difficult to promote because the photoexcited electrons reduce H2O2 to H2O more preferably than the H+ reduction, thus suppressing the H-2 generation. Here we report that visible light irradiation of Nafion-coated graphene quantum dots/carbon nitride (NfQD/CN) photocatalysts promotes the H2O2 splitting. The surface Nf layer on the catalysts behaves as an H2O2-impermeable/H+-permeable membrane to promote the H+ reduction while suppressing the H2O2 reduction, resulting in the H-2 generation.