Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (5): 100183.doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100183

• ARTICLE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Ionic polarization engineering of polymeric carbon nitride toward efficient H2O2 photosynthesis

Yao Xie1, Shuangjun Li2, Chao Chen1, Siyu Fan3, Ying Tao1,*(), Qitao Zhang1,*()   

  1. 1 International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong Province, China
    2 Research Center of Nano Science and Technology, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
    3 Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Kitakyushu 804-8550, Japan
  • Received:2025-08-20 Revised:2025-09-04 Accepted:2025-09-04 Published:2026-01-23
  • Contact: Email: taoying951223@163.com (Ying Tao)qitao-zhang@szu.edu.cn (Qitao Zhang)

Abstract:

Molten salt polarization, leveraging ionic interactions in high-temperature molten salts, emerges as a powerful yet underexplored strategy for structural engineering. It enables precise structural engineering of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN), offering a promising strategy to boost photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis. Herein, we report a controlled modulation strategy by varying LiCl/KCl ratios in molten salts to tailor the framework structures of PCN, achieving two distinct crystalline phases: heptazine-dominated (LKCN-0.95) and heptazine-triazine donor-acceptor (D-A) junction (LKCN-0.2). By integrating experimental and theoretical analyses, we revealed that Li+-rich molten salts promote highly ordered heptazine frameworks, while K+-dominated systems enable triazine incorporation. The optimized heptazine-dominated and heptazine-triazine junction exhibited 27-fold and 42-fold enhancements in H2O2 photosynthesis (3.3 and 5.2 mmol L−1 h−1) compared to pristine PCN (0.12 mmol L−1 h−1), alongside exceptional stability over five cycles. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that structural modulation enhances charge separation and optimizes oxygen adsorption/activation for selective 2e− oxygen reduction. This work not only advances the understanding of molten salt-driven structural evolution but also provides a scalable approach for designing efficient photocatalysts toward solar-driven H2O2 photosynthesis.

Key words: Polymeric carbon nitride, Heptazine-Triazine, Ionic polarization, Hydrogen peroxide, Photosynthesis