Photosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide in water: a promising on-site strategy for water remediation

Abstract

H₂O₂ is a green and clean oxidant. On-site H₂O₂ generation is a cost-effective process for long-term and full-scale water remediation without a need for transportation and storage of commercial H₂O₂. Photosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide (PHP) in water merely needs water and oxygen as starting materials to generate H₂O₂, accompanied by conversion and storage of solar energy. Therefore, the on-site PHP process in water could be a cost-effective and environment-friendly route for water remediation. First, the most recent advances in photocatalysts toward non-sacrificial PHP in water are discussed, and the strategies for the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance are elaborated. Then, an on-site PHP-enabled water remediation system is proposed. Finally, this article discusses the challenges and outlooks of the promising on-site PHP-based H₂O₂ generation system for water remediation.