Photosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide Based on g-C3N4: The Road of a Cost-Effective Clean Fuel Production

Emerging artificial photosynthesis promises to offer a competitive means for solar energy conversion and further solves the energy crisis facing the world. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is considered as a benign oxidant and a prospective liquid fuel, has received worldwide attention in the field of artificial photosynthesis on account of the source materials are just oxygen, water, and sunlight. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photocatalysts for H2O2 generation have attracted extensive research interest due to the intrinsic properties of g-C3N4. In this review, research processes for H2O2 generation on the basis of g-C3N4, including development, fabrication, merits, and disadvantages, and the state-of-the-art methods to enhance the performance are summarized after a brief introduction and the mechanism analysis of an efficient catalytic system. Also, recent applications of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts for H2O2 production are reviewed, and the significance of active sites and synthetic pathways are highlighted from the view of reducing barriers. Finally, this paper ends with some concluding remarks to reveal the issues and opportunities of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts for producing H2O2 in a high yield.