Synthesis Of Peroxide Research Articles

Palladium Single-Atom Assembly as a Formate Oxidase Mimic for the Enzymatic Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide

Palladium Single-Atom Assembly as a Formate Oxidase Mimic for the Enzymatic Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide

Construction of pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrolyl-linked covalent organic polymers to promote continuous overall H2O2 production

Sacrificial agent-free, solar-driven photocatalytic oxygen reduction holds promise for hydrogen peroxide production. However, the rapid recombination of electron–hole pairs in catalysts and the slow diffusion rate of oxygen on the catalyst surfaces significantly hinder the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide production. To address these issues, we developed a novel class of pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrolyl-linked covalent organic polymers (COPs) combined with microreactor technology to enhance hydrogen peroxide synthesis. These structurally well-defined polymers feature photoactive pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrolyl units were assembled from aldehyde, aniline, and 2,3-butanedione through a one-pot three-component reaction. Integrating pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrolyl moieties into the COPs creates donor–acceptor structures that facilitate the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. Among them, COP-2 achieved the highest H2O2 yield of 5446 μmol g−1 h−1. Furthermore, we designed a coiled tube photomicroreactor to improve mass transfer efficiency in the gas–liquid–solid triphase system, boosting the H2O2 yield to 20285 μmol g−1h−1 without the need for a sacrificial agent. This study offers new insights into integrating polymer photocatalysts with microflow technology, underscoring the potential for future green and continuous H2O2 production.

A Computation-Guided Design of Highly Defined and Dense Bimetallic Active Sites on a Two-Dimensional Conductive Metal-Organic Framework for Efficient H2O2 Electrosynthesis.

Electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e--ORR) provides an alternative method to the energy-intensive anthraquinone method. Metal macrocycles with precise coordination are widely used for 2e--ORR electrocatalysis, but they have to be commonly loaded on conductive substrates, thus exposing a large number of 2e--ORR-inactive sites that result in poor H2O2 production rate and efficiency. Herein, guided by first-principle predictions, a substrate-free and two-dimensional conductive metal-organic framework (Ni-TCPP(Co)), composed of CoN4 sites in porphine(Co) centers and Ni2O8 nodes, is designed as a multi-site catalyst for H2O2 electrosynthesis. The approperiate distance between the CoN4 and Ni2O8 sites in Ni-TCPP(Co) weakens the electron transfer between them, thus ensuring their inherent activities and creating high-density active sites. Meanwhile, the intrinsic electronic conductivity and porosity of Ni-TCPP(Co) further facilitate rapid reaction kinetics. Therefore, outstanding 2e--ORR electrocatalytic performance has been achieved in both alkaline and neutral electrolytes (>90 %/85 % H2O2 selectivity within 0-0.8 V vs. RHE and >18.2/18.0 mol g-1 h-1 H2O2 yield under alkaline/neutral conditions), with confirmed feasibility for water purification and disinfection applications. This strategy thus provides a new avenue for designing catalysts with precise coordination and high-density active sites, promoting high-efficiency electrosynthesis of H2O2 and beyond.

A Computation‐Guided Design of Highly Defined and Dense Bimetallic Active Sites on a Two‐Dimensional Conductive Metal–Organic Framework for Efficient H2O2 Electrosynthesis

AbstractElectrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e−‐ORR) provides an alternative method to the energy‐intensive anthraquinone method. Metal macrocycles with precise coordination are widely used for 2e−‐ORR electrocatalysis, but they have to be commonly loaded on conductive substrates, thus exposing a large number of 2e−‐ORR‐inactive sites that result in poor H2O2 production rate and efficiency. Herein, guided by first‐principle predictions, a substrate‐free and two‐dimensional conductive metal–organic framework (Ni‐TCPP(Co)), composed of CoN4 sites in porphine(Co) centers and Ni2O8 nodes, is designed as a multi‐site catalyst for H2O2 electrosynthesis. The approperiate distance between the CoN4 and Ni2O8 sites in Ni‐TCPP(Co) weakens the electron transfer between them, thus ensuring their inherent activities and creating high‐density active sites. Meanwhile, the intrinsic electronic conductivity and porosity of Ni‐TCPP(Co) further facilitate rapid reaction kinetics. Therefore, outstanding 2e−‐ORR electrocatalytic performance has been achieved in both alkaline and neutral electrolytes (>90 %/85 % H2O2 selectivity within 0–0.8 V vs. RHE and >18.2/18.0 mol g−1 h−1 H2O2 yield under alkaline/neutral conditions), with confirmed feasibility for water purification and disinfection applications. This strategy thus provides a new avenue for designing catalysts with precise coordination and high‐density active sites, promoting high‐efficiency electrosynthesis of H2O2 and beyond.

Properties of palladium-phosphorus catalysts supported on HZSM-5 zeolite in the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide

The properties of Pd/HZSM-5 and Pd–nP/HZSM-5 catalysts in direct synthesis and side processes of decomposition and hydrogenation of H2O2 under mild conditions in ethanol and aqueous-ethanol medium in the presence of an acid inhibitor were studied. Using HR-TEM, XRD and ICP MS methods, it was shown that as a result of modification with phosphorus, X-ray amorphous highly dispersed systems are formed, which represent structurally disordered solid solutions of phosphorus in palladium. The main reasons for the promoting effect of phosphorus on the yield of H2O2 are considered. It has been established that, along with phosphorus and acid modifiers, the use of a zeolite support in the H-form favors the inhibition of the side process of H2O2 decomposition.

Doped‐Sn Enhanced the Performance of BiOCl Nanosheet on Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide

AbstractThe hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced through electrochemical two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) is a promising green synthesis method and served as potential strategy to replace the energy‐intensive anthraquinone process. Nevertheless, the design of low‐cost and efficient electrocatalysts for 2e− ORR remains a formidable challenge. In this study, Sn‐BiOCl nanosheets electrocatalysts are prepared for expediting the 2e− ORR, achieving a high H2O2 selectivity of 92.9%, and the H2O2 yield of 10628 mg L−1 h−1 (0.1 mg cm−2) in a flow‐cell device. The in situ ATR‐SEIRAS results reveal that Sn‐BiOCl enhances the adsorption and activation of *OOH compared to BiOCl, resulting in higher activity and selectivity for 2e− ORR. Furthermore, this study investigates the potential for on‐site production and application of H2O2 using Sn‐BiOCl, which displays a 95% degradation removal of dyes (RhB, MB, and MO) within 20 min. This work not only have an insight into the critical roles of Bi and Sn atoms in enhancing the catalytic performance but also provides a thought to design efficient catalysts for production H2O2 via electrochemical 2e− ORR.

Tandem Oxidation Activation of Carbon for Enhanced Electrochemical Synthesis of H2O2: Unveiling the Role of Quinone Groups and Their Operando Derivatives

AbstractOxygen‐doped carbon materials show great promise to catalyze two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e‐ORR) for electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), but the identification of the active sites is the subject of ongoing debate. In this study, a tandem oxidation strategy is developed to activate carbon black for achieving highly efficient electrochemical synthesis of H2O2. Acetylene black (AB) is processed with O2 plasma and subsequent electrochemical oxidation, resulting in a remarkable selectivity of >96% over a wide potential range, and a record‐setting high yield of >10 mol gcat−1 h−1 with good durability in gas diffusion electrode. Comprehensive characterizations and calculations revealed that the presence of abundant C═O groups at the edge sites positively correlated to and accounted for the excellent 2e‐ORR performance. Notably, the edge hydroquinone group formed from quinone under operando conditions, which is overlooked in previous research, is identified as the most active catalytic site.

Incorporation of hydroxyl groups and π-rich electron domains into g-C3N4 framework for boosted sacrificial agent-free photocatalytic H2O2 production

Photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) based graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) materials has garnered significant attention due to its green and sustainable attributes. In this study, g-C3N4 nanosheets enriched with π‑rich electron domains and hydroxyl groups were synthesized through the pyrolysis of urea-tartaric acid mixed solution, and subsequently utilized for efficient photocatalytic production of H2O2. The incorporation of π-rich electron domains induced a downward shift in the conduction band edge, which can significantly diminish the Coulombic interactions of singlet Frenkel excitons, thereby facilitating efficient photo-generated charge separation and accelerated charge migration. Simultaneously, the modification with hydroxyl groups in g-C3N4 network enhances water molecule adsorption, reducing side reactions and thereby increasing the efficiency of selective H2O2 generation. The integration of π-rich electron domains with hydroxyl groups in g-C3N4, along with a comprehensive understanding of their underlying mechanisms, provides valuable insights for the rational design and synthesis of highly active energy conversion catalytic materials.

Photoelectrochemical Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide from Saline Water via the Two-Electron Water Oxidation Reaction.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production on the anode is more valuable than oxygen and chlorine evolution for photoelectrochemical saline water splitting. In this work, by the introduction of bicarbonate (HCO3-), H2O2 is produced from saline water (2 M KHCO3 + 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution) via the two-electron water oxidation reaction by a photoanode of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4). Furthermore, the Faradaic efficiency (FE) and accumulation for H2O2 are improved by coating antimony tetroxide (Sb2O4) on BiVO4. A H2O2 FE of 26% at 1.54 V vs RHE is obtained by Sb2O4/BiVO4 and 49 ppm of H2O2 is accumulated after a 135 min chronoamperometry. Similar to that in KHCO3 pure water solution, infrared spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis confirm that HCO3- plays a surface-mediating role in the formation of H2O2 in KHCO3 saline water solution. The presence of HCO3- in the electrolyte is able to not only increase the photocurrent density but also effectively inhibit the chlorine evolution reaction.

Perfluoroalkyl-modified covalent organic frameworks for continuous photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide synthesis and extraction in a biphasic fluid system

H2O2 photosynthesis represents an appealing approach for sustainable and decentralized H2O2 production. Unfortunately, current reactions are mostly carried out in laboratory-scale single-phase batch reactors, which have a limited H2O2 production rate (<100 μmol h−1) and cannot operate in an uninterrupted manner. Herein, we propose continuous H2O2 photosynthesis and extraction in a biphasic fluid system. A superhydrophobic covalent organic framework photocatalyst with perfluoroalkyl functionalization is rationally designed and prepared via the Schiff-base reaction. When applied in a home-built biphasic fluid photo-reactor, the superhydrophobicity of our photocatalyst allows its selective dispersion in the oil phase, while formed H2O2 is spontaneously extracted to the water phase. Through optimizing reaction parameters, we achieve continuous H2O2 photosynthesis and extraction with an unprecedented production rate of up to 968 μmol h−1 and tunable H2O2 concentrations from 2.2 to 38.1 mM. As-obtained H2O2 solution could satisfactorily meet the general demands of household disinfection and wastewater treatments.

Efficient H2O2 Synthesis through a Two-Electron Oxygen Reduction Reaction by Electrocatalysts.

The two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) for the sustainable synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has demonstrated considerable potential for local production of this environmentally friendly chemical oxidant on small, medium, and large scales. This method offers a promising alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone approach, placing a primary emphasis on the development of efficient electrocatalysts. Improving the efficiency of electrocatalysts and uncovering their catalytic mechanisms are essential steps in achieving high 2e-ORR activity, selectivity, and stability. This comprehensive review summarizes recent advancements in electrocatalysts for in-situ H2O2 production, providing a detailed overview of the field. In particular, the review delves into the design, fabrication, and investigation of catalytic active sites contributing to H2O2 selectivity. Additionally, it highlights a range of electrocatalysts including pure metals and alloys, transition metal compounds, single-atom catalysts, and carbon-based catalysts for the 2e-ORR pathway. Finally, the review addresses significant challenges and opportunities for efficient H2O2 electrosynthesis, as well as potential future research directions.

Engineering atomic Rb-N configurations to tune radical pathways for highly selective photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis coupled with biomass valorization

Photocatalytic oxygen reduction for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) synthesis presents a green and cost-effective production method. However, achieving highly selective H₂O₂ synthesis remains challenging, necessitating precise control over free radical reaction pathways and minimizing undesirable oxidative by-products. Herein, we report for the visible light-driven simultaneous co-photocatalytic reduction of O2 to H2O2 and oxidation of biomass using the atomic rubidium-nitride modified carbon nitride (CNRb). The optimized CNRb catalyst demonstrates a record photoreduction rate of 8.01 mM h−1 for H2O2 generation and photooxidation rate of 3.75 mM h−1 for furfuryl alcohol to furoic acid, achieving a remarkable solar-to-chemical conversion (SCC) efficiency of up to 2.27%. Experimental characterizations and DFT calculation disclosed that the introducing atomic Rb–N configurations allows for the high-selective generation of superoxide radicals while suppressing hydroxyl free radical formation. This is because the Rb–N serves as the new alternative site to perceive a stronger connection position for O2 adsorption and reinforce the capability to extract protons, thereby triggering a high selective redox product formation. This study holds great potential in precisely regulating reactive radical processes at the atomic level, thereby paving the way for efficient synthesis of H2O2 coupled with biomass valorization.

Nest-shaped hollow-encapsulated Pd catalyst enhances the catalytic performance of hydrogen peroxide directly synthesizing from hydrogen and oxygen

A well-defined structural morphology can significantly construct a special catalytic micro-reaction environment to enhance the catalytic performance of Pd catalyst in the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen (DSHP). In this study, SiO2 was used as a rigid template, PdCl2 as the Pd precursor, and dopamine hydrochloride (DA) as the carbon and nitrogen source to synthesize a nest-shaped hollow-encapsulated Pd catalyst named PdMulti@ONHCS. This catalyst was successfully constructed via high-temperature pyrolysis of poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDDA), which generated a blasting effect crucial for this formation. Characterization analysis, catalytic performance evaluation experiment, and molecular dynamics simulation were conducted to explore the structure-performance relationship of PdMulti@ONHCS catalyst in DSHP. Both experimental and simulation results consistently showed that the nest-shaped hollow structure of PdMulti@ONHCS catalyst created a distinctive catalytic microreactor environment with a spatial mass transfer constraint, which was not only conducive to adsorption and enrichment of H2 and O2 at Pd active sites to produce H2O2. In addition, the generated H2O2 can be desorbed from Pd active sites in time and rapidly diffused into the reaction solution, effectively inhibiting the dissociation of species containing OO bonds on the Pd surface, resulting in severe hydrogenation and decomposition side reactions, and improving H2O2 productivity and selectivity.

Fragmented Polymetric Carbon Nitride with Rich Defects for Boosting Electrochemical Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide in Alkaline and Neutral Media.

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction via 2e- pathway is a safe and friendly route for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis. In order to achieve efficient synthesis of H2O2, it is essential to accurately control the active sites. Here, fragmented polymetric carbon nitride with rich defects (DCN) is designed for H2O2 electrosynthesis. The multi-type defects, including the sodium atom doping in six-fold cavities, the boron atom doping at N-B-N sites and the cyano groups, are successfully created. Owing to the synergistic effect of these defects, the fragmented DCN achieves a high H2O2 production rateof 2.28 mol gcat. -1 h-1 and a high Faradic efficiency of nearly 90 % in alkaline media at 0.4 V vs. RHE in H-type cell. In neutral media, the H2O2 concentration produced by DCN can reach 1815 μM within 6 h at a potential of 0.2 V vs. RHE, and the H2O2 production rate of DCN is 0.23 mol gcat. -1 h-1. In addition, DCN shows excellent long-term durability in alkaline and neutral media. This study provides a new approach for the development of the boron, nitrogen doped carbon-based electrocatalysts for H2O2 electrochemical synthesis.

Vacancy-defect promoting blue LED-driven H2O2 synthesis on Zn0.4Cd0.6S without additional cocatalysts

Photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide offers an effective solution to the energy crisis. The design and development of high-activity and low-cost photocatalysts are crucial for H2O2 production. In this work, Zn0.4Cd0.6S with abundant S vacancies (SV-ZCS) is developed for H2O2 photosynthesis under 405 nm LED illumination without additional cocatalysts. The S vacancies serve as photo-generated electron trap centers, effectively extending the lifetimes of photogenerated carriers and promoting the separation of photoelectric carriers. Additionally, SV-ZCS is endowed with enhanced light capture capability, enhancing the overall photocatalytic activity for H2O2 production. The results were in line with expectations, the SV-ZCS samples demonstrated a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) productivity of 3902 μmol L-1 h-1 when subjected to visible light irradiation, representing a significant increase compared to that of ZCS (2840 μmol L-1 h-1 ). This work provides an effective strategy for preparing photocatalysts for efficient hydrogen peroxide production.

In-plane electron transfer dominated carbon nitride for high-efficiency quasi-homogeneous photochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide

Layered materials are particularly striking at photochemical conversion, but the weakness of electron transfer and the lack of active surfaces severely limit their potential. Herein, a carbon nitride with enhanced electron transfer and abundant active surfaces (CNS) was prepared through suitable basicity assisted thermal polymerization of urea. The CNS exhibited a rate as high as 208 μM mg−1 h−1 for an easy-to-operable quasi-homogeneous photochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and its internal quantum efficiency at multiple wavelengths is at least an order of magnitude higher than that of other prepared carbon nitride. Characterization and theoretical calculation confirmed that the quantum efficiency of electron transfer from in-plane to oxygen is superior to interplane. Moreover, the hydroxyl and cyanide groups of CNS greatly facilitates the proton-coupled electron transfer process for converting oxygen into H2O2. Our finding paves the way for applications of carbon nitride in mandatory water treatment and offers meaningful insights into modifying layered photocatalysts.

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen to Peroxide on a Microporous Carbon Layer in a Gas Diffusion Electrode: Implications for Scale-up

When coupled with renewables, the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction(O2RR) could be a valuable process to generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a versatile and environmentally friendly oxidant[1]. While the electrocatalyst's nature determines the catalytic activity and selectivity (2e- vs. 4e- reduction), the O2 gas mass transport, electrolyte type (e.g., alkaline, neutral, or acidic) and its flow rate, and the electrode configuration (e.g., trickle-bed or gas diffusion (GDE) electrode) are also essential factors for scale-up[2-4]. Typically, operational current densities for O2RR are limited to less than 100 mA cm-2, which is inadequate for industrial applications. The porous gas diffusion electrode (GDE) assembly provides continuous O2 gas delivery at the catalyst/electrolyte interface by overcoming O2 mass transport limitations encountered in trickle-bed or dissolved gas (single-phase) configurations. While the GDE could enable the operation under industrially relevant current densities (i.e., > 100 mA cm-2), for two-phase flow processes, flooding imposes severe challenges in the GDE scale-up and the durability of the process. Here, we present that a microporous carbon-coated gas diffusion electrode could enable very high current density (> 500 mA cm-2) synthesis of alkaline peroxide in a flow reactor with more than 90% faradaic efficiency. The microporous carbon layer provides dual functionality, namely the catalytically active sites for the reaction and controlling the GDE flooding. In addition to the electrode design, the two-phase fluid flow dynamics and electrolyzer operation conditions are significant factors for long-term stability. Although the fluid flow effect on the trickle bed type electrolyzer has been studied [3], no study exists on the systematic investigation of the two-phase mass transfer effect in the GDE-based electrolyzer for peroxide generation with a catholyte layer. The experimental findings and mass transfer modeling highlight further improvements concerning the process scale-up.

New Charged Interfaces for Energy Conversion and Catalysis

Charged interfaces are key areas for charge transfer and chemical reactions. Studying these interfaces at the microscopic level, especially in constructing and characterizing specific structures, understanding charge transfer, and managing chemical reactions, is crucial but challenging. Our work focuses on three innovative interface structures: solid/solid triboelectric, liquid/gas electrified, and solid/ultrathin heterojunction interfaces. We have achieved significant insights into the charge transfer mechanisms within these electrified systems and effectively controlled catalytic reactions at these interfaces.Key findings include: Development of new concepts for contact electrification and electrostatic-induced coupling at solid/solid interfaces, leading to novel applications in energy conversion and catalysis. We introduced the concept of mechanical-electric-catalytic reactions based on triboelectric interfaces and achieved direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide through friction-catalysis under normal conditions.Effective control of reaction kinetics and selectivity in charged microdroplet liquid/gas electrified interfaces by adjusting parameters like droplet evaporation rates and electric field characteristics. This approach led to efficient production of hydrogen peroxide and selective conversion of carbon dioxide.Precise atomic-level construction and sub-nanometer characterization of solid/ultrathin heterojunction interfaces, exemplified by gold/graphene interfaces. This included the development of a gold/ultrathin palladium/single-layer ruthenium structure, enabling in-depth study of hydroxylation reactions and the influence of palladium interlayers on ruthenium's catalytic efficiency.

Metal Atom-Support Interaction in Single Atom Catalysts toward Hydrogen Peroxide Electrosynthesis.

Single metal atom catalysts (SACs) have garnered considerable attention as promising agents for catalyzing important industrial reactions, particularly the electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Within this field, the metal atom-support interaction (MASI) assumes a decisive role, profoundly influencing the catalytic activity and selectivity exhibited by SACs, and triggers a decade-long surge dedicated to unraveling the modulation of MASI as a means to enhance the catalytic performance of SACs. In this comprehensive review, we present a systematic summary and categorization of recent advancements pertaining to MASI modulation for achieving efficient electrochemical H2O2 synthesis. We start by introducing the fundamental concept of the MASI, followed by a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the correlation between the MASI and catalytic performance. We describe how this knowledge can be harnessed to design SACs with optimized MASI to increase the efficiency of H2O2 electrosynthesis. Finally, we distill the challenges that lay ahead in this field and provide a forward-looking perspective on the future research directions that can be pursued.

Constructing alkaline microenvironment on catalyst surface for enhanced electrocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in a neutral electrolyte

The direct electrochemical synthesis of H2O2 via a two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) offers a feasible alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone oxidation process. Compared to alkaline electrolytes, challenges remain in achieving high 2e− ORR selectivity and activity for electrosynthesis of H2O2 in neutral electrolytes due to the low concentration of OH−, which hinders the effective binding of key intermediate OOH*. Here, we introduced Lewis acid TiO2 to modify carbon black catalyst for adsorbing in-situ generated OH− and created a local alkaline microenvironment for enhancing the 2e− ORR activity and selectivity in neutral electrolytes. H2O2 productivity of TiO2 modified carbon black catalyst (52.5 mmol L−1 h−1) in a neutral electrolyte (0.5 M Na2SO4) at 0.2 V vs. RHE was 1.6 times as much as that of pristine carbon black (33 mmol L−1 h−1), which was similar with that of pristine carbon black (58.4 mmol L−1 h−1) in an alkaline electrolyte (0.1 M KOH). The finite-element method simulations and experiments indicated that TiO2 could enhance local alkalinity to increase the current density for facilitating 2e− ORR. The density functional theory calculations indicated that the introducing of TiO2 into the CB structure could promote the adsorption of O2, facilitate the adsorption of *OOH and reduce the overpotential, resulting in high activity towards 2e− ORR to H2O2. This work proposes a new strategy for optimizing electrode–electrolyte interface to enhance 2e− ORR performance in neutral electrolytes.