journal article·2025-08

Boosting Photocatalytic H 2 and H 2 O 2 Evolution Enabled by Surface Non‐Uniform Pyroelectric Field Derived Dielectrophoresis Effect

Youzi Zhang, Jie Su, Yijin Wang, Tong Wang, Peng Guo, Sibi Liu, Xu Xin, Shujie Zhang, Nazia Nasr, Xuanhua Li

Advanced Energy Materials· Volume 15· Issue 31
Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract Photocatalytic water splitting into H 2 and H 2 O 2 presents a promising approach for converting solar energy into chemical energy. However, sluggish charge migration and unsatisfactory mass transfer restrict its activity. Herein, a photocatalytic system composed of a ZnO/Mo 2 C/polyacrylic acid hydrogel and carbonized wood, featuring surface non‐uniform pyroelectric field‐derived dielectrophoresis effect to offer a driving force for both charge and mass transfer is demonstrated. The chaotic motion of water vapor generated by the carbonized wood and the photothermal effect of Mo 2 C induce surface temperature oscillations and alter the polarization state of ZnO, resulting in a maximum 0.52 V surface non‐uniform pyroelectric field and stimulating a 108‐fold increase in dielectrophoresis force. This photocatalytic system demonstrates a 41% reduction in carrier migration barriers induced by non‐uniform pyroelectric field, alongside a local enrichment of intermediates and optimized H 2 diffusion via dielectrophoresis force, thus resulting in a record photocatalytic activity with H 2 and H 2 O 2 evolution rates of 755.5 and 626.3 µmol h −1 , respectively. A large‐area system (900 cm 2 ) is fabricated, yielding 2.5 L of H 2 and 103.05 mmol of H 2 O 2 per day under natural sunlight. This study presents promising design criteria for creating an efficient photocatalytic system focusing on energy harvesting and the production of high‐value‐added products.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Gas Sensing Nanomaterials and Sensors · Electrostatics and Colloid Interactions · Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing Center for Nano Energy Materials School of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an 710072 China

Research and Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University Shenzhen 518057 China

State Key Discipline Laboratory of Wide Band Gap Semiconductor Technology Shaanxi Joint Key Laboratory of Graphene School of Microelectronics Xidian University Xi′an 710071 China

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

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