High Activity and Selectivity of M-N/C Catalysts toward Two-Electron O2 Electroreduction

Abstract

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is a versatile and environmentally friendly chemical oxidant with a remarkably diverse range of applications, including fine chemical synthesis, first aid kits for disinfection, pulp and textile bleaching, wastewater treatment and others. Industrial production of H2O2 is based on the anthraquinone oxidation/reduction process, which consumes a lot of energy, requires complex and large-scale equipment, and mass extraction solvents, generating an enormous waste. There is a general demand for a more decentralised infrastructure, where energy conversion and chemical synthesis are conducted closer to the point of consumption. In this context, developing an electrochemical process to partially reduce O2 to H2O2 (O2 + 2H+/e- → H2O2) in an acidic medium would be an attractive strategy that could be carried out under ambient conditions using renewable energies. However, practical and economic electrocatalysts that exhibit high activity and selectivity for hydrogen peroxide production is to be developed. A series of M-N/C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, and Cu) were prepared in the present study. The performance (activity and selectivity) of these catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction was investigated in the potential window of 0.2 V to 1.0 V vs. the Reversible Hydrogen Electrode (RHE). Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the Co-N/C [c] electrocatalyst exhibits high ORR activity and exceptional selectivity for hydrogen peroxide production (92% at 0.5 V vs. RHE).