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Biomimetic Redox-Mediated Proton Relay in Nanoreactors for Photocatalysis
Haitao Li1,2,3, Mengyuan Ji1,3, Jinlu He1,3
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Synthetic nanomaterials mimic cellular proton pumps for sustainable photocatalysis. A novel hollow CdS@polydopamine nanoreactor achieves record hydrogen peroxide production rates under visible light.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photocatalysis
Background:
- Sustainable photocatalysis requires efficient biomimetic nanomaterials.
- Mimicking cellular compartmentalization and proton pumps is key for advanced catalytic systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a hollow CdS@polydopamine nanoreactor integrating biomimetic features for enhanced photocatalysis.
- To achieve high-efficiency hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production via water splitting and oxygen reduction.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a hollow CdS@polydopamine nanoreactor with a dynamic catechol/o-benzoquinone redox pair.
- Utilizing a compartmentalized nanoreactor architecture for confined microenvironments.
- Employing in situ spectroscopy, photochemical analysis, and computational simulations to elucidate the mechanism.
Main Results:
- The nanoreactor achieved a record H2O2 production rate of 3.24 mmol gcat.-1 h-1 under visible light.
- Demonstrated a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 1.2%.
- Developed monolithic and recyclable photocatalysts encapsulated in sodium alginate hydrogel for stable H2O2 synthesis under natural sunlight.
Conclusions:
- The biomimetic nanoreactor effectively mimics cellular machinery for efficient photocatalysis.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for sustainable H2O2 production and inspires new biomimetic nanomaterials.
- The developed photocatalysts show potential for practical applications in energy catalysis and synthetic chemistry.
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