Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2025, Vol. 75: 105-114.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64750-4

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Few-layer oxygen vacant Bi2O2(OH)NO3 for dual-channel piezocatalytic H2O2 production from H2O and air

Li Yuanrui, Zhang Xiaolei, Li Tong, Hu Cheng, Chen Fang, Cai Hao, Huang Hongwei()   

  1. Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Geological Carbon Storage and Low Carbon Utilization of Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, National Laboratory of Mineral Materials, School of Material Sciences and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2025-02-14 Accepted:2025-04-09 Online:2025-08-18 Published:2025-07-22
  • Contact: *E-mail: hhw@cugb.edu.cn (H. W. Huang).
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(52472258);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52272244);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2652022202)

Abstract:

In comparison with traditional anthraquinone methods or electrocatalytic approaches, piezocatalysis for H2O2 generation has garnered extensive attention as an environmentally friendly strategy. It is highly anticipated to develop piezocatalysts with strong piezoresponse, high stress sensitivity and high catalytic activity. Here, we present few-layer Bi2O2(OH)NO3 (BON) nanosheets (~3-4 unit-cell layers) with oxygen vacancies, synthesized via a one-step method, as an efficient piezoelectric catalyst for dual-channel H2O2 production from H2O and air. The few-layer structure endows BON with exceptional mechanical energy harvesting capabilities, while the larger specific surface area facilitates amplifying the modification effects induced by oxygen vacancies. The introduced vacancies boost surface structure asymmetry, creating localized polarization fields and strengthening piezoelectric potential. Simultaneously, the intrinsic effect of oxygen vacancies efficiently facilitates the adsorption and activation of O2, H2O, and intermediates, thereby enhancing the piezoelectric catalytic activity. Thus, the optimized BON exhibits a H2O2 yield of 1345.24 μmol·g-1 from pure water and air via two-electron oxygen reduction and two-electron water oxidation reactions, approximately five times higher than the original BON and surpassing the majority of reported piezoelectric catalysts. This work highlights the importance of microstructure control and defect engineering, and emphasizes the crucial role of structure and oxygen vacancy concentration regulation in enhancing the performance of piezoelectric catalysis for H2O2 production. It provides valuable guidance for designing high-performance catalysts tailored for sustainable environmental remediation.

Key words: Bi2O2(OH)NO3, Few-layer structure, Oxygen vacancy, Piezoelectric polarization, H2O2 piezocatalysis