Emerging Perylene Diimide-Based Oxygen-Evolving Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is an essential chemical with a wide range of applications in environmental remediation, chemical synthesis, and biomedicine. The photocatalytic production of H₂O₂ has attracted increasing attention as a sustainable alternative to traditional industrial methods. Among various photocatalytic materials, perylene diimide (PDI)-containing systems have recently emerged as promising candidates for H₂O₂ production, owing to their favorable band alignment, excellent oxidizing properties, metal-free composition, and remarkable stability. In this concept, this study highlights the inherent advantages of PDI nanomaterials for photocatalytic H₂O₂ production, focusing on their role in driving the water oxidation half-reaction, which is a frequently overlooked yet critical bottleneck for the overall efficiency of the process. Recent advances in the development of PDI-based photocatalysts, including molecular structure regulation, molecular modification, and heterojunction construction are systematically summarized. Based on these advances, future research directions for improving the water oxidation activity by refining the photophysical properties, introducing active sites, and designing heterojunction systems to improve the photocatalytic H₂O₂ production performance are proposed. This concept aims to provide an innovative perspective on the development of PDI-based materials, as a new generation of efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for H₂O₂ production.