H2O2 is an essential chemical for a wide range of industries, which is exclusively manufactured through energy demanding anthraquinone process. Electrolysis provides an efficient way to synthesize H2O2 by 2e- O2 reduction process. In this regard, most studies in the field has focused on identifying H2O2-selective electrocatalyst. Various materials including noble metal, carbon, molecular complex, and single-atom-based electrocatalysts have been designed and demonstrated high selectivity and productivity for electrochemical H2O2 production. In particular, the adsorption energies of the reaction intermediates (OH* and OOH*) can be precisely optimized by tuning the atomic configuration of single-atom electrocatalysts, and enabled highly selective H2O2 production at near-zero overpotential with high stability. For industrial-scale electrosynthesis of H2O2, industrially-relevant current density (&gt;0.3 A cm-2), high cell efficiency (&gt;90 %), low entire cell-voltage (&lt;2 V) and high operation stability should be simultaneously achieved. However, the performance of the state-of-the-art electrochemical H2O2 production system is far behind the demands for industrialization. Here, we present a design principle that precisely optimizes the catalytic behavior of Co-based single atom electrocatalysts at high current densities by modulating the surrounding atomic structure of the metal center, which enables the electrocatalysts to achieve high turnover frequencies and selectivity in industrially-relevant production rates. In addition, controlling the solid-gas-liquid phase interface is essential in designing high-performance electrochemical system that involves reactant gases. Ideally, for high-performance electrochemical H2O2 production, O2 and H2O should be sufficiently provided to the active site to eliminate the mass diffusion issue. Considering H2O and H2O2 are both hydrophilic, developing appropriate route to balance the O2, H2O and H2O2 diffusion in the electrochemical H2O2 production system is essential for industrialization. In summary, we will suggest the multiscale electrode system optimization, optimizing hydrophobicity/philicity of electrode surface to balance diffusion, atomic-level modulation of catalyst design, and facilitated gas diffusion through microfluidic cell type.

Industrial-scale H2O2 electrosynthesis at low cell voltage via catalyst layer optimization

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ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.