Construction of a red phosphorus-molybdenum dioxide electron-rich interface for efficient photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide.

Developing efficient catalysts to enhance photoreduction carbon dioxide (CO) into hydrocarbon fuels is a great challenge. As metallic material, molybdenum dioxide (MoO) has very high conductivity and charge density, which make it a promising candidate as photocatalyst. However, its photocatalytic activity is limited by the serious charge recombination.

Crystal OH mediating pathway for hydrogen peroxide production via two-electron water oxidation in non-carbonate electrolytes.

Water oxidation presents a promising avenue for hydrogen peroxide (HO) production. However, the reliance on alkaline bicarbonate electrolytes as an intermediate has limitations, such as HO decomposition and a narrow pH effectiveness range (7-9), restricting its utility across wider pH ranges. This study unveils a crystal OH mediating pathway that stabilizes SOOH* as a crucial intermediate.

Low-valent copper on molybdenum triggers molecular oxygen activation to selectively generate singlet oxygen for advanced oxidation processes.

Singlet oxygen (O), which is difficult to generate, plays an important role in chemosynthesis, biomedicine and environment. Molecular oxygen (O) is a green oxidant to produce O cost-effectively. However, O activation is difficult due to its spin-forbidden nature.