Solar‐to‐H2O2 Energy Conversion by the Photothermal Effect of a Polymeric Photocatalyst via a Two‐Channel Pathway

Abstract With a view to using solar energy, the exploitation of near‐infrared (NIR) light, which constitutes about 50 % of solar energy, in photocatalytic H 2 O 2 synthesis remains challenging. In this study, resorcinol−formaldehyde (RF), which has a relatively low bandgap and high conductivity, is introduced for photothermal catalytic generation of H 2 O 2 under ambient conditions. Owing to the promoted surface charge transfer rate under high temperature, the photosynthetic yield reaches roughly 2000 μ m within 40 min under 400 mW cm −2 irradiation with a solar‐to‐chemical conversion (SCC) efficiency of up to 0.19 % at 338 K under ambient conditions, exceeding the rate of photocatalysis with a cooling system by a factor of about 2.5. Notably, the H 2 O 2 produced by RF during photothermal process was formed via a two‐channel pathway, leading to the overall promotion of H 2 O 2 formation. The resultant H 2 O 2 can be applied in situ for pollutant removal. This work offers a sustainable and economical route for the efficient formation of H 2 O 2 .