Production of Hydrogen Peroxide by Photocatalytic Processes

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has received increasing attention because it is not only a mild and environmentally friendly oxidant for organic synthesis and environmental remediation but also a promising new liquid fuel. The production of H₂O₂ by photocatalysis is a sustainable process, since it uses water and oxygen as the source materials and solar light as the energy. Encouraging processes have been developed in the last decade for the photocatalytic production of H₂O₂. In this Review we summarize research progress in the development of processes for the photocatalytic production of H₂O₂. After a brief introduction emphasizing the superiorities of the photocatalytic generation of H₂O₂, the basic principles of establishing an efficient photocatalytic system for generating H₂O₂ are discussed, highlighting the advanced photocatalysts used. This Review is concluded by a brief summary and outlook for future advances in this emerging research field.