Refining Metal-Free Carbon Nanoreactors through Electronic and Geometric Comodification for Boosted H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> Electrosynthesis toward Efficient Water Decontamination

Hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) electrosynthesis using metal-free carbon materials via the 2e<sup>-</sup> oxygen reduction pathway has sparked considerable research interest. However, the scalable preparation of carbon electrocatalysts to achieve satisfactory H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> yield in acidic media remains a grand challenge. Here, we present the design of a carbon nanoreactor series that integrates precise O/N codoping alongside well-regulated geometric structures targeting high-efficiency electrosynthesis of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Theoretical computations reveal that strategic N/O codoping facilitates partial electron transfer from C sites to O sites, realizing electronic rearrangement that optimizes C-site adsorption of *OOH. Concurrently, the O-O bond in *OOH is strengthened by charge transfer from antibonding to π-orbitals, stabilizing the O-O bond and preventing its dissociation. The carbon nanoreactor with a hollow bowl geometry also facilitates the mass transport of O<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, achieving an H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> selectivity of 96% in acidic media. Furthermore, a flow cell integrated with the refined nanoreactor catalyst achieves an impressive H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production rate of 2942.4 mg L<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup>, coupled with stable operation of nearly 80 h, surpassing the state-of-the-art metal-free analogs. The feasibility of the electro-synthesized H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is further demonstrated to be highly efficient in wastewater remediation.

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Publication Details

Journal
Environmental Science & Technology
Published
2024-11-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c11612
Citations
14
Primary Topic
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.43
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article

Refining Metal-Free Carbon Nanoreactors through Electronic and Geometric Comodification for Boosted H2O2 Electrosynthesis toward Efficient Water Decontamination

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14 citations
Environmental Science & Technology
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
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article

Refining Metal-Free Carbon Nanoreactors through Electronic and Geometric Comodification for Boosted H2O2 Electrosynthesis toward Efficient Water Decontamination

Jingyu Sun, Shi Xue Dou, Laiquan Li, Yifei Wang, Guangheng Chen, Yuhan Wu, Yongzhen Peng, Beibei Li
article en
14 citations

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) electrosynthesis using metal-free carbon materials via the 2e<sup>-</sup> oxygen reduction pathway has sparked considerable research interest. However, the scalable preparation of carbon electrocatalysts to achieve satisfactory H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> yield in acidic media remains a grand challenge. Here, we present the design of a carbon nanoreactor series that integrates precise O/N codoping alongside well-regulated geometric structures targeting high-efficiency electrosynthesis of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Theoretical computations reveal that strategic N/O codoping facilitates partial electron transfer from C sites to O sites, realizing electronic rearrangement that optimizes C-site adsorption of *OOH. Concurrently, the O-O bond in *OOH is strengthened by charge transfer from antibonding to π-orbitals, stabilizing the O-O bond and preventing its dissociation. The carbon nanoreactor with a hollow bowl geometry also facilitates the mass transport of O<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, achieving an H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> selectivity of 96% in acidic media. Furthermore, a flow cell integrated with the refined nanoreactor catalyst achieves an impressive H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production rate of 2942.4 mg L<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup>, coupled with stable operation of nearly 80 h, surpassing the state-of-the-art metal-free analogs. The feasibility of the electro-synthesized H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is further demonstrated to be highly efficient in wastewater remediation.

Environmental Science & TechnologyVol. 58(49)
University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (CN), Nanjing University of Science and Technology (CN), Beijing University of Technology (CN), Soochow University (CN)
Clean water and sanitation
Openalex Percentile: Top 19%
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
1.43
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