Issue 19, 2020

A catalyst design for selective electrochemical reactions: direct production of hydrogen peroxide in advanced electrochemical oxidation

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide production by enhanced electrocatalysts is an attractive alternative to the present commercial process. While the subnano/atomic dispersion in noble metal nanocatalysts is known to strongly enhance their catalytic efficiency and chemoselectivity, their excessive surface energy and consequent coarsening seriously compromise their physical/chemical stability. Here, we report a subnano/atomically dispersed Pt–Ag alloy (by a simply modified polyol process) that is resistant to agglomeration/Ostwald ripening. This catalyst does not follow a conventional four-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) but selectively produces H2O2 without excessive degradation of its activity. We clarified the role of the alloying element, Ag, as follows: (1) selective activation of two-electron ORR by inhibiting O2 dissociation and (2) suppression of H2O2 decomposition by preventing the H2O2 adsorption. The present approach provides a convenient route for the direct generation of H2O2 as a simple byproduct of electricity generation by fuel-cell systems.

Graphical abstract: A catalyst design for selective electrochemical reactions: direct production of hydrogen peroxide in advanced electrochemical oxidation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Feb 2020
Accepted
27 Apr 2020
First published
30 Apr 2020

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020,8, 9859-9870

A catalyst design for selective electrochemical reactions: direct production of hydrogen peroxide in advanced electrochemical oxidation

Y. Ko, K. Choi, B. Yang, W. H. Lee, J. Kim, J. Choi, K. H. Chae, J. H. Lee, Y. J. Hwang, B. K. Min, H. Oh and W. Lee, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 9859 DOI: 10.1039/D0TA01869D

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