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Surface indium vacancies promote photocatalytic H2O2 production over In2S3

Author

Listed:
  • Qiong Zhu

    (Tongji University, Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering)

  • Jingjing Su

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Attosecond Science and Technology (CAST), Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Guoan Lin

    (Tongji University, Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering)

  • Guisheng Li

    (University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, School of Materials and Chemistry)

  • Zhiwen Zhuo

    (University of Science and Technology of China, Department of Chemical Physics & Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale)

  • Weiyi Wang

    (University of Science and Technology of China, Department of Chemical Physics & Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale)

  • Jialin Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Attosecond Science and Technology (CAST), Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaoxiang Xu

    (Tongji University, Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering)

Abstract

Photocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) represents a green and cost-effective means to produce the high-value industrial compound H2O2. However, the efficient H2O2 synthesis awaits in-depth knowledge of the ORR mechanisms for the design of highly active photocatalysts. In this work, surface indium vacancies (denote hereafter as VIn) have been introduced into In2S3, which significantly boosts the photocatalytic activity for H2O2 production, with an optimal H2O2 generation rate of 4.77 ± 0.05 mmol·h−1·gcat.−1 under visible light illumination (λ ≥ 420 nm) and an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 7.49 ± 0.01% at 420 ± 20 nm. Mechanistic analysis reveals the multifunctionality of VIn, such as enlarging the chemisorption capacity of O2, enriching photo-generated electrons for ORR, endorsing high reducing power to photo-generated electrons, and promoting H2O2 desorption. These findings justify that surface cation vacancies open up new possibilities for H2O2 photosynthesis by leveraging their reaction dimensions in ORR.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiong Zhu & Jingjing Su & Guoan Lin & Guisheng Li & Zhiwen Zhuo & Weiyi Wang & Jialin Li & Xiaoxiang Xu, 2025. "Surface indium vacancies promote photocatalytic H2O2 production over In2S3," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65538-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65538-w
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