Indexed by:
Abstract:
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) can proceed through either a two- or four-electron pathway, both of which are important for a wide range of applications. The intermediate conversion of *O2⁻ + H⁺ → *OOH recognized as the rate-determining step in ORR, with its efficiency strongly dependent on the nature of active sites at the surface of a catalyst. Herein, Si-supported carbon dots (Si-CDs) are introduced as cocatalysts in a photocatalytic system, where their nitrogen–carbon sites play a pivotal role in lowering the energy barrier for *OOH formation by promoting proton and electron transfers, thus enhancing the H2O2 production rate in ORR. This strategy is broadly applicable across a wide range of photocatalysts, both with and without use of sacrificial agents. The H2O2 production rate for Zn0.5Cd0.5S (30 mg) increased from 13.0 to 40.9 µmol h−1 when 0.6 mg of Si-CDs were added. In-situ characterizations and theoretical simulations are conducted to reveal the reaction pathway and the reduced energy requirements for the *O2⁻ + H⁺ → *OOH conversion. This study provides a unique example of overcoming a key barrier in ORR using a metal-free catalyst and promotes potential applications in various fields. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Keyword:
Reprint 's Address:
Email:
Source :
Angewandte Chemie - International Edition
ISSN: 1433-7851
Year: 2025
Issue: 34
Volume: 64
1 6 . 1 0 0
JCR@2023
Cited Count:
SCOPUS Cited Count:
ESI Highly Cited Papers on the List: 0 Unfold All
WanFang Cited Count:
Chinese Cited Count:
30 Days PV: 0
Affiliated Colleges: