Metal-free efficient photocatalyst for stable visible water splitting via a two-electron pathway

TLDR

Carbon‑based catalysts for water splitting typically require metal components to achieve activity. The photocatalyst couples C₃N₄, which generates hydrogen and peroxide, with CDots that decompose the peroxide, preventing self‑damage. The metal‑free C–N hybrid photocatalyst drives water splitting under visible light and shows robust stability, indicating promise for solar‑energy storage applications. Liu et al., Science, p.

Abstract

An enduring catalyst built from carbon Splitting water into its constituent elements, hydrogen and oxygen, generally requires the assistance of metal catalysts. Liu et al. now show that a metal-free hybrid material composed of carbon and nitrogen can promote this reaction all on its own, with the help of some visible light. The photocatalyst combines one material (C 3 N 4 ) known to split water into hydrogen and peroxide with a second material (CDot) that breaks the peroxide down before it can damage the first. The robust stability of this hybrid bodes well for practical implementation of optimized analogs in solar energy storage schemes. Science , this issue p. 970