Oxidation‐Enhanced Piezocatalytic Activity in Carbon Nitride‐Based Catalysts for Hydrogen and Hydrogen Peroxide Production

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Abstract
Driven by the urgent need for a green, safe, and cost‐effective approach to producing H2 and H2O2—both highly valuable in green energy and environmental protection fields—piezocatalysis, which converts mechanical energy into valuable chemicals, has emerged as a promising solution. However, current catalyst systems face challenges due to the need for materials with both a strong piezoelectric effect and favorable catalytic activity. Herein, the construction of an oxidized carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) matrix anchored with TiO2 nanoparticles via alkaline hydrothermal treatment is reported. Under ultrasonication, the g‐C3N4/TiO2 composite exhibits optimal performance under carefully controlled alkaline hydrothermal conditions. With a low concentration of Ba(OH)2 during hydrothermal treatment, Ba(OH)2 provides an alkaline medium, oxidizing the g‐C3N4 species and introducing structural defects into the g‐C3N4 framework. The disruption of the g‐C3N4 matrix, along with its interaction with TiO2 nanoparticles, enhances the piezoelectric effect. Consequently, the oxidized g‐C3N4/TiO2 composite achieves a remarkable H2 production rate of 4427.2 μmol g−1 and an H2O2 production rate of 809.3 μmol g−1 within 1 h without the addition of any sacrificial agents or cocatalysts. This work presents an effective strategy for the structural optimization of g‐C3N4‐based materials and may inspire new approaches for designing advanced piezocatalysts.
Funding Information
  • Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (577030859)
  • Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (E2019208243)
  • Science and Technology Innovative Research Team in Higher Educational Institutions of Hunan Province

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