Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (11): 100147.doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100147

• ARTICLE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Lignin derived carbon quantum dots and oxygen vacancies coregulated S-scheme LCQDs/Bi2WO6 heterojunction for photocatalytic H2O2 production

Qishen Wang1, Changzhao Chen1,*(), Mengqing Li1, Lingmin Wu2,*(), Kai Dai3,*()   

  1. 1 School of Mechanics and Photoelectric Physics, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, Anhui Province, China
    2 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong Province, China
    3 Key Laboratory of Green and Precise Synthetic Chemistry and Applications, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pollutant Sensitive Materials and Environmental Remediation, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, Anhui Province, China
  • Received:2025-07-06 Revised:2025-07-30 Accepted:2025-08-03 Published:2025-09-29
  • Contact: Email: chzhchen@aust.edu.cn (Changzhao Chen)202110184982@mail.scut.edu.cn (Lingmin Wu)daikai940@chnu.edu.cn (Kai Dai)
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22278169); the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12304134); the Excellent Scientific Research and Innovation Team of Education Department of Anhui Province(2022AH010028); the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province(2108085ME148)

Abstract:

This study presents an innovative photocatalytic system utilizing waste biomass resources for sustainable synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and high-value lignin derivatives. A lignin derived carbon quantum dots (LCQDs) loaded S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst LCQDs/Bi2WO6 (LCD/BWO) was synthesized via hydrothermal method. The LCD/BWO composite demonstrates exceptional H2O2 production rate (3.776 mmol·h−1·g−1) and maintains 89.72% activity retention after 5 cycles under visible light irradiation, representing a 5.97-fold enhancement over catalyst BWO−A. The performance leap stems from synergistic effects between LCQDs and oxygen vacancies (OVs) defects: the unique up-conversion luminescence of LCQDs combined with S-scheme charge transfer mechanism enhances light absorption and carrier separation efficiency, while interfacial OVs act as electron traps to prolong carrier lifetime. In situ electron paramagnetic resonance (In situ EPR) analysis revealed substantial generation of •O2⁻ and •OH radicals on catalyst surfaces. Band structure characterization confirms optimized H2O2 synthesis through consecutive single-electron reactions. Synergistic regulation of band positions significantly enhances oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and water oxidation reaction (WOR) capabilities. As lignin primarily originates from agricultural/forestry waste, this work not only provides new design strategies for efficient photocatalytic systems but also advances high−value utilization of waste biomass resources.

Key words: Lignin-derived carbon quantum dots (LCQDs), Oxygen vacancies (OVs), S-scheme heterojunction, In situ EPR, H2O2 production