Bifunctional Bi_0.98Sm_0.02FeO₃/g-C₃N₄ Piezocatalyst for Simultaneous H₂ and H₂O₂ Production

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Piezocatalysis offers a clean route for hydrogen (H2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation.
• Simultaneously enhancing both H2 and H2O2 production via piezocatalysis is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient bifunctional piezocatalyst for simultaneous H2 and H2O2 production.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of Sm doping and g-C3N4 compositing on BiFeO3 for enhanced piezocatalytic activity.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Sm-doped BiFeO3 and its composite with g-C3N4 (Bi0.98Sm0.02FeO3/g-C3N4).
• Evaluation of piezocatalytic performance for H2 and H2O2 production via water splitting.
• Utilizing theoretical calculations to understand reaction mechanisms and energy barriers.

Main Results:

• The BSFO/g-C3N4 composite exhibited significantly enhanced piezocatalytic activity for simultaneous H2 and H2O2 production.
• Achieved H2 and H2O2 evolution rates of 988 and 214 μmol g-1 h-1, respectively, outperforming pure BiFeO3.
• Theoretical calculations confirmed reduced energy barriers for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and water oxidation reaction (WOR) intermediates.

Conclusions:

• The developed BiFeO3-based bifunctional piezocatalyst demonstrates high efficiency for simultaneous H2 and H2O2 production.
• The synergistic effects of doping and compositing are crucial for optimizing piezocatalytic performance.
• This work provides valuable insights for designing advanced piezocatalysts for sustainable water splitting.