催化学报 ›› 2025, Vol. 76: 81-95.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64735-8

• 论文 • 上一篇    下一篇

轴向磷配位修饰Co-N4活性中心促进双通道H2O2光合成

梁诗诺, 李冯俊, 黄菲, 王心俣, 刘升卫()   

  1. 中山大学环境科学与工程学院, 广东省环境污染控制与修复技术重点实验室, 广东广州 510006
  • 收稿日期:2025-03-25 接受日期:2025-05-12 出版日期:2025-09-18 发布日期:2025-09-10
  • 通讯作者: 刘升卫
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金(51872341);广东省自然科学基金(2024A1515010505);广东省自然科学基金(2025A1515010004)

Modulating electronic structure of g-C3N4 hosted Co-N4 active sites by axial phosphorus coordination for efficient overall H2O2 photosynthesis from oxygen and water

Shinuo Liang, Fengjun Li, Fei Huang, Xinyu Wang, Shengwei Liu()   

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2025-03-25 Accepted:2025-05-12 Online:2025-09-18 Published:2025-09-10
  • Contact: Shengwei Liu
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(51872341);GuangDong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2024A1515010505);GuangDong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2025A1515010004)

摘要:

太阳能驱动的过氧化氢(H2O2)光合成为其绿色经济合成提供了重要途径. 单原子催化剂(SACs)因具有快速的电荷转移动力学、能够为O2提供Pauling构型吸附活性位点以及可调的电子结构等优势, 在H2O2光合成方面展现出良好潜力. 其中, 钴单原子催化剂(Co-SACs)凭借其适中的d带中心而展现出最优的*OOH吸附能, 在电催化O2还原反应(ORR)合成H2O2方面展现出优异的催化活性与选择性. 然而, 受限于光生载流子定向富集位点与反应物吸附位点不匹配、水氧化反应(WOR)动力学缓慢且选择性低导致的严重载流子复合, Co-SACs在光催化H2O2合成领域催化活性与选择性仍欠佳.

针对该问题, 本文通过磷化策略调控了高结晶氮化碳(g-C3N4)纳米棒(CCN)侧边缘负载的Co-N4活性位点的配位环境, 成功构筑了具有独特配位结构的Co单原子活性中心, 即一个Co原子与四个平面N原子和一个轴向P原子配位(记作Co-N4P1). X射线吸收谱、X射线光电子能谱和密度泛函理论(DFT)计算结果共同揭示了Co单原子的精确配位结构. 旋转环盘电流测试、活性物种电子顺磁共振测试和捕获实验、原位漫反射红外傅里叶变换光谱以及同位素标定结果共同表明, Co-N4P1通过高活性与选择性的2e--ORR与2e--WOR路径实现H2O2光合成. DFT计算结果表明, 其高活性与选择性源于轴向P配体对Co-N4P1中作为ORR活性位点的中心Co原子和作为WOR活性位点的平面配位N原子的精准电子结构调控. 具体而言, 轴向P配体诱导Co-N4P1的导带(CB)底附近形成由Co 3d轨道占据的中隙态, 从而促进了光生电子在中心Co活性位点的定向富集. 得益于此, ORR活性位点从倾向于4e--ORR路径的末端-NH2位点转移到具有Pauling吸附构型且倾向于2e--ORR路径的Co位点, 从而提高了2e--ORR路径选择性. 此外, 轴向P配体的引入还促进了Co 3d轨道的d带中心上移, 优化了Co位点对*OOH中间体的吸附, 使其吸附能更接近活性火山图的顶点, 从而在保证2e--ORR路径选择性的同时提高了催化活性. 同时, 轴向P配体的引入促进了N 2p轨道的p带中心下移, 减弱了N位点对*OH中间体的吸附, 有效提高了2e--WOR路径光合成H2O2的选择性. 光催化性能测试表明, Co-N4P1表现出了优异的H2O2光合成效率(295.6 µmol g-1 h-1)和太阳能-化学能转化效率(0.32%), 其光合成效率分别是Co-N4 (19.2 µmol g-1 h-1)和CCN(27.6 µmol g-1 h-1)的15倍和11倍.

综上, 本文揭示了电子结构调控对促进Co-SACs高效合成H2O2的关键作用, 为优化H2O2光合成路径和提高合成效率提供了新思路.

关键词: 高结晶氮化碳, 配位工程, Co-N4P1单原子活性位点, 电子结构调控, H2O2光合成

Abstract:

Single-atom catalysts are promising for H2O2 photosynthesis from O2 and H2O, but their efficiency is still limited by the ill-defined electronic structure. In this study, Co single-atoms with unique four planar N-coordination and one axial P-coordination (Co-N4P1) are decorated on the lateral edges of nanorod-like crystalline g-C3N4 (CCN) photocatalysts. Significantly, the electronic structures of central Co as active sites for O2 reduction reaction (ORR) and planar N-coordinator as active sites for H2O oxidation reaction (WOR) in Co-N4P1 can be well regulated by the synergetic effects of introducing axial P-coordinator, in contrast to the decorated Co single-atoms with only four planar N-coordination (Co-N4). Specifically, directional photoelectron accumulation at central Co active sites, induced by an introduced midgap level in Co-N4P1, mediates the ORR active sites from 4e--ORR-selective terminal -NH2 sites to 2e--ORR-selective Co sites, moreover, an elevated d-band center of Co 3d orbital strengthens ORR intermediate *OOH adsorption, thus jointly facilitating a highly selective and active 2e--ORR pathway to H2O2 photosynthesis. Simultaneously, a downshifted p-band center of N 2p orbital in Co-N4P1 weakens WOR intermediate *OH adsorption, thus enabling a preferable 2e--WOR pathway toward H2O2 photosynthesis. Subsequently, Co-N4P1 exhibits exceptional H2O2 photosynthesis efficiency, reaching 295.6 μmol g-1 h-1 with a remarkable solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 0.32 %, which is 15 times that of Co-N4 (19.2 μmol g-1 h-1) and 10 times higher than CCN (27.6 μmol g-1 h-1). This electronic structure modulation on single-atom catalysts offers a promising strategy for boosting the activity and selectivity of H2O2 photosynthesis.

Key words: Crystalline carbon nitride, Coordination engineering, Single atom Co-N4P1 active sites, Modulating electronic structure, Overall H2O2 photosynthesis