Electrochemically synthesized H2O2 at industrial-level current densities enabled by in situ fabricated few-layer boron nanosheets
Abstract Carbon nanomaterials show outstanding promise as electrocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction. However, carbon-based electrocatalysts that are capable of generating H2O2 at industrial-level current densities (>300 mA cm−2) with hi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55071-7 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Carbon nanomaterials show outstanding promise as electrocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction. However, carbon-based electrocatalysts that are capable of generating H2O2 at industrial-level current densities (>300 mA cm−2) with high selectivity and long-term stability remain to be discovered. Herein, few-layer boron nanosheets are in-situ introduced into a porous carbon matrix, creating a metal-free electrocatalyst (Bn-C) with H2O2 production rates of industrial relevance in neutral or alkaline media. Bn-C maintained > 95% Faradaic efficiency during a 140-hour test at 300 mA cm−2 and 0.1 V vs. RHE, and delivered a mass activity of 25.1 mol gcatalyst −1 h−1 in 1.0 M Na2SO4 using a flow cell. Theoretical simulations and experimental studies demonstrate that the superior catalytic performance originates from B atoms with adsorbed O atoms in the boron nanosheets. Bn-C outperforms all metal-based and metal-free carbon catalysts reported to date for H2O2 synthesis at industrial-level current densities. |
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| ISSN: | 2041-1723 |