Nafion-Integrated Resorcinol-Formaldehyde Resin Photocatalysts for Solar Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Abstract

Photocatalytic generation of H2O2 from water and O2 is a promising strategy for liquid solar-fuel production. Previously reported powder photocatalysts promote a subsequent oxidative/reductive decomposition of the H2O2 generated, thereby producing low-H2O2-content solutions. This study reports that Nafion (Nf)-integrated resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) semiconducting resin powders (RF@Nf), synthesized by polycondensation of resorcinol and formaldehyde with an Nf dispersion solution under high-temperature hydrothermal conditions, exhibit high photocatalytic activities and produce high-H2O2-content solutions. Nf acts as a surface stabilizer and suppresses the growth of RF resins. This generates small Nf-woven resin particles with large surface areas and efficiently catalyze water oxidation and O2 reduction. The Nf-woven resin surface, due to its hydrophobic nature, hinders the access of H2O2 and suppresses its subsequent decomposition. The simulated-sunlight irradiation of the resins in water under atmospheric pressure of O2 stably generates H2O2, producing high-H2O2-content solutions with more than 0.06 wt % H2O2 (16 mM).