Tuning Proton Affinity on Co−N−C Atomic Interface to Disentangle Activity‐Selectivity Trade‐off in Acidic Oxygen Reduction to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>
In oxygen reduction reaction to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> via two-electron pathway (2e<sup>-</sup> ORR), adsorption strength of oxygen-containing intermediates determines both catalytic activity and selectivity. However, it also causes activity-selectivity trade-off. Herein, we propose a novel strategy through modulating the interaction between protons and *OOH intermediates to break the activity-selectivity trade-off for highly active and selective 2e<sup>-</sup> ORR. Taking the typical cobalt-nitrogen-carbon single-atom catalyst as an example, boron heteroatoms doped into second coordination sphere of CoN<sub>4</sub> (Co<sub>1</sub>-NBC) increase proton affinity on catalyst surface, facilitating proton attack on the former oxygen of *OOH and thereby promoting H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> formation. As a result, Co<sub>1</sub>-NBC simultaneously achieves prominent 2e<sup>-</sup> ORR activity and selectivity in acid with onset potential of 0.724 V vs. RHE and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> selectivity of 94 %, surpassing most reported catalysts. Furthermore, Co<sub>1</sub>-NBC exhibits a remarkable H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> productivity of 202.7 mg cm<sup>-2</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> and a remarkable stability of 60 h at 200 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> in flow cell. This work provides new insights into resolving activity-selectivity trade-off in electrocatalysis.
Authors
- You‐Nian Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7078-5937)
- Chao Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8599-9340)
- Cheng‐Wei Kao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3434-3258)
- Tao Luo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4910-6124)
- Shanyong Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3944-1810)
- Min Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9007-4817)
- Xiaoqing Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4742-2131)
- Ting‐Shan Chan
- Jiaqi Xiang
- Jiarui Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9890-2698)
Institutions
- Central South University (CN)
- Jinan University (CN)
- Hunan University (CN)
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (TW)
- State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy
Publication Details
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Published
- 2024-11-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202418713
- Citations
- 34
- Primary Topic
- Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.48
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province