Investigation into the Stability of Monometallic Metal Oxides Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Peroxide Synthesis Through Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

The electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) constitutes an environmentally benign and sustainable alternative to conventional anthraquinone oxidation (AO) technology. To enable industrial implementation of this methodology, the development of cost-effective, durable, and highly efficient electrocatalysts represents an imperative requirement. In contrast to the prohibitive costs associated with noble metals, transition metal oxides (TMOs) demonstrate substantial advantages in terms of natural abundance, economic viability, catalytic activity, and selectivity, thereby establishing themselves as competitive substitutes for traditional noble metal-based oxygen electrocatalysts. Nevertheless, the structural integrity and catalytic performance of TMOs are prone to degradation under the inherent rigorous operational conditions of electrochemical H2O2 production. This review systematically investigates the factors governing TMOs of stability through thermodynamic and kinetic analyses. By elucidating structure-performance correlations, it consolidates stabilization strategies for TMOs, substantiated by representative case studies. Furthermore, the intricate relationships between catalyst stability, synthetic protocols, and reactor configurations are examined. The discussion culminates in delineating prospective opportunities and challenges for future research directions. This comprehensive analysis aims to establish a foundational framework for designing high-performance TMOs catalysts, ultimately advancing the industrial-scale implementation of TMOs-mediated 2e− ORR systems.