Improved Operating Parameters for Hydrogen Peroxide-Generating Gas Diffusion Electrodes

Abstract

The influence of process parameters on the H2O2 yield of gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) are investigated. The investigated GDEs consist of Vulcan XC72 carbon black and PTFE on gold-plated nickel wire cloth. An electrolysis cell is used to evaluate the influence of various process parameters, such as temperature, pH value, oxygen pressure and stoichiometric factor, electrolyte flow regime, current density and separator material at steady-state conditions. It is found that the investigated GDE enables current efficiencies greater than 90 % at up to 2 kA m−2, whereby lower electrolyte temperatures and higher pH values contribute to higher H2O2 yields above 90 % current efficiency.