Electrosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide through Selective Oxygen Reduction: A Carbon Innovation from Active Site Engineering to Device Design

Abstract

AbstractElectrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through the selective oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) offers a promising alternative to the energy‐intensive anthraquinone method, while its success relies largely on the development of efficient electrocatalyst. Currently, carbon‐based materials (CMs) are the most widely studied electrocatalysts for electrosynthesis of H2O2 via ORR due to their low cost, earth abundance, and tunable catalytic properties. To achieve a high 2e− ORR selectivity, great progress is made in promoting the performance of carbon‐based electrocatalysts and unveiling their underlying catalytic mechanisms. Here, a comprehensive review in the field is presented by summarizing the recent advances in CMs for H2O2 production, focusing on the design, fabrication, and mechanism investigations over the catalytic active moieties, where an enhancement effect of defect engineering or heteroatom doping on H2O2 selectivity is discussed thoroughly. Particularly, the influence of functional groups on CMs for a 2e−‐pathway is highlighted. Further, for commercial perspectives, the significance of reactor design for decentralized H2O2 production is emphasized, bridging the gap between intrinsic catalytic properties and apparent productivity in electrochemical devices. Finally, major challenges and opportunities for the practical electrosynthesis of H2O2 and future research directions are proposed.