Electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide on Boron-Doped diamond (BDD) electrode

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a clean oxidizing reagent with many industrial, environmental, medical, and domestic applications. It has been frequently produced using the anthraquinone oxidation process. However, more recently, the electrochemical production of H₂O₂ has become a popular alternative, as this process is chemically green and sustainable since it employs abundant and inexpensive starting molecules (O₂ and H₂O). This review focuses on the electrochemical synthesis of H₂O₂ using the two-electron water oxidation reaction (2e⁻ WOR) and two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e⁻ ORR), both on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes functioning as an anode or cathode, respectively. This review begins by identifying the important and fundamental characteristics of BDD electrodes, as well as the influence of their chemical and physical properties in the electrochemical production of H₂O₂. The principles and mechanism of the 2e⁻ WOR and 2e⁻ ORR are also discussed. In addition, various environmental applications of H₂O₂ electrochemical production (via the 2e⁻ ORR and 2e⁻ WOR) are addressed. Finally, the sustainability and costs of BDD electrodes and future strategies to improve BDD performance are considered.