N-Doped Graphitized Carbon Nanohorns as a Forefront Electrocatalyst in Highly Selective O2 Reduction to H2O2

Abstract

Fornasiero and colleagues describe an alternative strategy for producing hydrogen peroxide through a more sustainable method than the current synthetic approaches. The strategy relies on the use of electrocatalysis, made possible by the use of a catalyst with high efficiency and selectivity toward H 2 O 2 formation. The prepared material is particularly appealing because it does not contain any metal, implying a greener and cheaper synthetic scheme.

Selective Electrocatalytic H2O2 Generation by Cobalt@N‐Doped Graphitic Carbon Core–Shell Nanohybrids

“…Interestingly, the two binding energies at 400.6 and 398.6 eV relate to the sole formation of pyrrolic (C−N bonds) and pyridinic (C=N bonds) N atoms, respectively, with the absence of quaternary or oxidized N atoms. We have recently reported that the exclusive presence of these two types of N atoms in a metal‐free electrocatalyst and their relative ratio (N pyridinic /N pyrrolic =0.89) is instrumental to trigger an almost totally selective two‐electron mechanism under acidic conditions . The N pyridinic /N pyrrolic atomic ratio for Co‐NC‐im is 0.83, thus confirming the key importance of this parameter (Table S1 in the Supporting Information).…”

Exploring Bi2Te3 Nanoplates as Versatile Catalysts for Electrochemical Reduction of Small Molecules

“…[ 1 ] Industrially, H 2 O 2 is prepared by direct oxidation of H 2 , which is however with the danger of explosion. [ 9,10 ] O 2 reduction reaction (ORR) represents an attractive alternative to prepare H 2 O 2 with the feature of environmentally friendly and safe, but electrocatalysts suffer from high cost, limited selectivity, and/or low activity. [ 1,2,11,12 ] Besides H 2 O 2 , HCOOH, an important intermediate in industry and the chemical fuel in direct HCOOH fuel cells, is a common CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) product, [ 13–15 ] but developing the active, selective, durable, and cheap electrocatalysts for CO 2 RR is also very challenging.…”

Free‐Standing 3D Electrodes for Electrochemical Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide

“…[9] As an efficient liquid oxidant, H 2 O 2 is also an alternative oxidant for fuel cells in special circumstances where air is not available, such as under-water environment. [10][11] Thus, qualitative and quantitative analysis of H 2 O 2 is both an important practical technology and a hot research topic for a variety of research fields. Especially, in biosystem, detecting H 2 O 2 in situ or in a single living cell level is a challenge for bio-detection and could open a door toward real time observation of cellular physiological processes.…”

“…In addition, H 2 O 2 is an intermediate of O 2 reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) with coupled multi‐electrons, which is very important for the cathodic kinetics of conventional fuel cells and metal‐air batteries . As an efficient liquid oxidant, H 2 O 2 is also an alternative oxidant for fuel cells in special circumstances where air is not available, such as under‐water environment . Thus, qualitative and quantitative analysis of H 2 O 2 is both an important practical technology and a hot research topic for a variety of research fields.…”