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Electrochemical oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide at practical rates in strong acidic media

Author

Listed:
  • Xiao Zhang

    (Rice University)

  • Xunhua Zhao

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Peng Zhu

    (Rice University)

  • Zachary Adler

    (Rice University)

  • Zhen-Yu Wu

    (Rice University)

  • Yuanyue Liu

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Haotian Wang

    (Rice University
    Rice University
    Rice University)

Abstract

Electrochemical oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in acidic media, especially in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrode assembly reactors, suffers from low selectivity and the lack of low-cost catalysts. Here we present a cation-regulated interfacial engineering approach to promote the H2O2 selectivity (over 80%) under industrial-relevant generation rates (over 400 mA cm−2) in strong acidic media using just carbon black catalyst and a small number of alkali metal cations, representing a 25-fold improvement compared to that without cation additives. Our density functional theory simulation suggests a “shielding effect” of alkali metal cations which squeeze away the catalyst/electrolyte interfacial protons and thus prevent further reduction of generated H2O2 to water. A double-PEM solid electrolyte reactor was further developed to realize a continuous, selective (∼90%) and stable (over 500 hours) generation of H2O2 via implementing this cation effect for practical applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao Zhang & Xunhua Zhao & Peng Zhu & Zachary Adler & Zhen-Yu Wu & Yuanyue Liu & Haotian Wang, 2022. "Electrochemical oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide at practical rates in strong acidic media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30337-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30337-0
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    1. Qi Huang & Baokai Xia & Ming Li & Hongxin Guan & Markus Antonietti & Sheng Chen, 2024. "Single-zinc vacancy unlocks high-rate H2O2 electrosynthesis from mixed dioxygen beyond Le Chatelier principle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Peike Cao & Xie Quan & Xiaowa Nie & Kun Zhao & Yanming Liu & Shuo Chen & Hongtao Yu & Jingguang G. Chen, 2023. "Metal single-site catalyst design for electrocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide at industrial-relevant currents," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Jiannan Du & Guokang Han & Wei Zhang & Lingfeng Li & Yuqi Yan & Yaoxuan Shi & Xue Zhang & Lin Geng & Zhijiang Wang & Yueping Xiong & Geping Yin & Chunyu Du, 2023. "CoIn dual-atom catalyst for hydrogen peroxide production via oxygen reduction reaction in acid," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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