Controllable synthesis of mesoporous Mo 2 C nanofibers photocatalyst for H 2 O 2 production

Abstract Photocatalysis is a promising method to alternative anthraquinone for producing hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), which is a clean and important oxidizing agent in industry. Molybdenum carbide (Mo 2 C) attracted much interests as photocatalysts due to its high stability, narrow and tunable bandgap, and good electrical conductivity. However, Mo 2 C is always considered as a co‐catalyst, and it is still a challenge to develop and explore the role of pure Mo 2 C as a photocatalyst for H 2 O 2 generation. Meanwhile, the controllable synthesis of Mo 2 C, especially the morphology and structures rational design, is crucial to enhance its photocatalytic performance. In this work, the mesoporous Mo 2 C nanofibers has been synthesized by the simple impregnation method and its content was easily regulated by modulating the concentration of molybdenum precursor impregnated solution. The influence of Mo 2 C content and composition was demonstrated for H 2 O 2 photocatalytic performance and its possible mechanism was proposed. The Mo 2 C nanofibers with diameter of 170 nm and highest Mo 2 C content of 97 wt% (sample MC‐IV) exhibited the best photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production of 144 µmol at the first hour, and its possible mechanism is two‐electron O 2 reduction (2e − ORR). This work may provide a general strategy for the synthesis of Mo 2 C nanomaterials as photocatalysts for H 2 O 2 production.