Enabling direct H2O2 production through rational electrocatalyst design

• Future generations require more efficient and localized processes for energy conversion and chemical synthesis. The continuous on-site production of hydrogen peroxide would provide an attractive alternative to the present state-of-the-art, which is based on the complex anthraquinone process. The electrochemical reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide is a particularly promising means of achieving this aim. However, it would require active, selective and stable materials to catalyse the reaction. Although progress has been made in this respect, further improvements through the development of new electrocatalysts are needed. Using density functional theory calculations, we identify Pt-Hg as a promising candidate. Electrochemical measurements on Pt-Hg nanoparticles show more than an order of magnitude improvement in mass activity, that is, Ag-1 precious metal, for H2O2 production, over the best performing catalysts in the literature.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

oxidation

electroreduction

fuel-cell

carbon

catalysts

hydrogen-peroxide

platinum

electrode

disk

oxygen reduction reaction

metal-surfaces

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)