One-step pyrolysis conversion of glucose and urea into melanoidin for highly efficient photocatalytic H2O2 production

•A new type of melanoidin photocatalysts prepared by one-step pyrolysis of glucose and urea;•High H2O2 production efficiency (330 μM g−1h−1) without sacrificial agent or O2 aeration under visible light;•Universal strategy to prepare metal-free photocatalysts for H2O2 generation through Maillard reaction;•Furan-pyrrole units enhance the separation of photocarriers and broaden the photo-absorption range.