N-doped carbon nanotubes supported CoSe2 nanoparticles: A highly efficient and stable catalyst for H2O2 electrosynthesis in acidic media

Abstract

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) provides an attractive alternative to anthraquinone process for H2O2 synthesis. Rational design of earth-abundant electrocatalysts for H2O2 synthesis via a two-electron ORR process in acids is attractive but still very challenging. In this work, we report that nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes as a multi-functional support for CoSe2 nanoparticles not only keep CoSe2 nanoparticles well dispersed but alter the crystal structure, which in turn improves the overall catalytic behaviors and thereby renders high O2-to-H2O2 conversion efficiency. In 0.1 M HClO4, such CoSe2@NCNTs hybrid delivers a high H2O2 selectivity of 93.2% and a large H2O2 yield rate of 172 ppm·h−1 with excellent durability up to 24 h. Moreover, CoSe2@NCNTs performs effectively for organic dye degradation via electro-Fenton process. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].