Catalytic materials for efficient electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the simplest peroxide consisting of only hydrogen and oxygen, is globally used as a green oxidant. It is also a promising fuel source, and it can be produced on large scales in centralized containers. H2O2 is mainly produced by the anthraquinone process, but it involves energy-consuming reactions and generates organic waste. As the demand for H2O2 continues to grow, alternative technologies that overcome these drawbacks are sought for its generation. The generation of H2O2 through the redox reaction of water and oxygen can be a low-cost, sustainable, and efficient production method. However, this reaction requires active and stable catalysts. In general, H2O2 can be generated by the oxidation of H2O at the anode of an electrochemical cell. Alternatively, H2O2 can also be formed by the reduction of O2 at the cathode. Despite the progress in the development and advancement of materials that catalyze these reactions, further research is required to increase the electron transport rates and active sites of the catalyst. In this article, we review the available catalytic materials for the electrochemical production of H2O2 and provide a summary and outlook of this field.