Citation: Yongkang Quan, Ruidong Li, Yunfei Yang, Shuguo Ding, Rongxing Chen, Jianying Huang, Yun Hau Ng, Yuekun Lai. Interface engineered Type-II heterojunction ZnIn₂S₄/SCN for enhanced photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis from pure water[J]. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, ;2026, 42(10): 100237. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2026.100237 shu

Interface engineered Type-II heterojunction ZnIn₂S₄/SCN for enhanced photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis from pure water

Yongkang Quan ^1,2 ,
Ruidong Li ⁴ ,
Yunfei Yang ¹ ,
Shuguo Ding ¹ ,
Rongxing Chen ¹ ,
Jianying Huang ^1,, ,
Yun Hau Ng ^5,6,, ,
Yuekun Lai ^1,2,3,,

1.
College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian Province, China;
2.
Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou 362801, Fujian Province, China;
3.
State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430073, Hubei Province, China;
4.
School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi Province, China;
5.
School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong 999077, Hong Kong, China;
6.
Center for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST), Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding author: Jianying Huang, Yun Hau Ng, Yuekun Lai,
Received Date: 18 November 2025
Revised Date: 2 January 2026
Accepted Date: 3 January 2026

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is widely utilised as a green chemical across numerous industries. Photocatalytic synthesis of H₂O₂ represents a highly promising green synthetic pathway. However, the application of single semiconductors is constrained by limitations in photogenerated charge separation and low photocatalytic reaction efficiency. Constructing heterojunctions to enhance interfacial electron transfer and improve charge separation is crucial for enhancing photocatalytic activity. Here, a two-step approach is employed to construct a Type-II heterojunction ZnIn₂S₄/SCN, forming a directional and high-speed e^-/h⁺ transport channel. The built-in electric field (BEF) provides the driving force for the transport and separation of e^-/h⁺ at the interface. Thanks to a well-designed interface, the high recombination rate of photo-generated electron-hole pairs within a single photocatalyst and its relatively low photocatalytic activity have been effectively overcome. The ZnIn₂S₄/SCN heterojunction achieves a hydrogen peroxide yield of 257.0 μmol g^-1 h^-1 under air conditions via the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mechanism in pure water medium, realising highly efficient photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis. Based on a heterojunction design, this study provides an important reference for the highly efficient photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide.
- Type-II heterojunction,
- Interface,
- Photocatalysis,
- Hydrogen peroxide,
- Pure water
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Interface engineered Type-II heterojunction ZnIn2S4/SCN for enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis from pure water

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Interface engineered Type-II heterojunction ZnIn₂S₄/SCN for enhanced photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis from pure water