Surface/interface engineering of carbon-based catalysts for efficient hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis

Abstract

Electrocatalytic two-electron oxygen reduction reaction is an effective, safe and green approach to produce hydrogen peroxide, and the “catalyst-design’’ for highly efficient hydrogen peroxide production has already been reported on various of works. Specially, the modification of the existing catalysts for two-electron oxygen reduction reaction via surface/interface engineering shares huge potential on further enhancing their corresponding catalytic performance, and a detail overview on the research progress of carbon-based electrocatalysts via surface/interface engineering and their intrinsic reaction mechanism is helpful to realize a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the latest progress in this field and further achieving highly efficient hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis. Herein, fundamental aspects about the 2e−/4e− pathways of oxygen reduction reaction are first introduced. Subsequently, a comprehensive summarization of the current strategies for carbon-based catalysts modification via surface/interface engineering for high selectivity and yield of hydrogen peroxide production is presented. Finally, the prospects and challenges for the hydrogen peroxide production with high efficiency and yield rate are presented, which should shed light on the industrial production and application of hydrogen peroxide.