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Atomically dispersed asymmetric cobalt electrocatalyst for efficient hydrogen peroxide production in neutral media

Author

Listed:
  • Longxiang Liu

    (University College London)

  • Liqun Kang

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion)

  • Jianrui Feng

    (University College London)

  • David G. Hopkinson

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • Christopher S. Allen

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
    University of Oxford)

  • Yeshu Tan

    (University College London)

  • Hao Gu

    (University College London)

  • Iuliia Mikulska

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • Veronica Celorrio

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • Diego Gianolio

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • Tianlei Wang

    (University College London)

  • Liquan Zhang

    (University College London)

  • Kaiqi Li

    (University College London)

  • Jichao Zhang

    (University College London)

  • Jiexin Zhu

    (University College London)

  • Georg Held

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • Pilar Ferrer

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • David Grinter

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • June Callison

    (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

  • Martin Wilding

    (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

  • Sining Chen

    (University College London)

  • Ivan Parkin

    (University College London)

  • Guanjie He

    (University College London)

Abstract

Electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production (EHPP) via a two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e- ORR) provides a promising alternative to replace the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. M-N-C electrocatalysts, which consist of atomically dispersed transition metals and nitrogen-doped carbon, have demonstrated considerable EHPP efficiency. However, their full potential, particularly regarding the correlation between structural configurations and performances in neutral media, remains underexplored. Herein, a series of ultralow metal-loading M-N-C electrocatalysts are synthesized and investigated for the EHPP process in the neutral electrolyte. CoNCB material with the asymmetric Co-C/N/O configuration exhibits the highest EHPP activity and selectivity among various as-prepared M-N-C electrocatalyst, with an outstanding mass activity (6.1 × 105 A gCo−1 at 0.5 V vs. RHE), and a high practical H2O2 production rate (4.72 mol gcatalyst−1 h−1 cm−2). Compared with the popularly recognized square-planar symmetric Co-N4 configuration, the superiority of asymmetric Co-C/N/O configurations is elucidated by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy analysis and computational studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Longxiang Liu & Liqun Kang & Jianrui Feng & David G. Hopkinson & Christopher S. Allen & Yeshu Tan & Hao Gu & Iuliia Mikulska & Veronica Celorrio & Diego Gianolio & Tianlei Wang & Liquan Zhang & Kaiqi , 2024. "Atomically dispersed asymmetric cobalt electrocatalyst for efficient hydrogen peroxide production in neutral media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48209-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48209-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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