Hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis using commercial carbon blacks as catalysts: the influence of surface properties and adsorption performance
BACKGROUND
Surface properties and adsorption performance of carbon materials play a crucial role in the electrochemical two-electron oxygen reduction to produce H2O2. However, there is still a lack of in-depth research on commercial carbon blacks in this area. Herein, four typical commercial carbon blacks (Acetylene black (AB), Ketjen black EC 600JD, Vulcan XC 72 and Black Pearls 2000) were used as cathode catalysts to generate H2O2. Surface chemistry and pore structure of electrodes of the four carbon blacks were systematically characterized, and their effects on H2O2 adsorption, electrochemical generation and degradation were investigated.
RESULTS
Among the four carbon blacks, AB has the highest content of C–O–C/COOH and CO, which are active groups catalyzing the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction to generate H2O2. AB has the lowest level of defects and highest degree of graphitization, and AB-modified graphite felt electrode (AB-Ele) has the largest average pore diameter, smallest specific surface area and smaller charge transfer resistance. H2O2 production using AB-Ele is the largest and reaches 567.7 mg L−1 at 180 min under a current density of 5 mA cm−2, and only decreases by 17.6% after 10 repeated uses.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology(JCTB) is an international, inter-disciplinary peer-reviewed journal concerned with the application of scientific discoveries and advancements in chemical and biological technology that aim towards economically and environmentally sustainable industrial processes.