Electrochemical Synthesis of H2O2 by Two-Electron Water Oxidation Reaction

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a high-value green chemical oxidant widely used for industrial bleaching, chemical synthesis, and disinfection. Industrially, H2O2 is produced through the energy-intensive anthraquinone process and distributed to the point of use. There is a growing interest in electrochemically producing H2O2 onsite to mitigate transportation cost and safety concerns and leveraging renewable electricity. Most research has been dedicated to the two-electron oxygen reduction to produce H2O2. For the past decade, growing attention has been paid to the two-electron water oxidation reaction (2e-WOR) to produce H2O2. This review focuses on the research progress on 2e-WOR, including basic principles, catalyst development, and H2O2 detection. Computational approaches to study candidate materials for 2e-WOR are detailed, and various experimental reports on catalysts are summarized. Ulterior electrochemical factors that impact H2O2 production are discussed, along with device- level design. Finally, a holistic perspective on water oxidation reaction is offered, and open questions for future work are presented.

Automated summary

This paragraph discusses the application of hydrogen peroxide and the progress in different methods for its production. Research is mainly focused on the two-electron oxygen reduction and two-electron water oxidation reactions to generate H2O2. The article summarizes different research methods and materials, and discusses factors that impact H2O2 production.