Highly Selective O2 Reduction to H2O2 Catalyzed by Cobalt Nanoparticles Supported on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon in Alkaline Solution

We report the synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon (Co-NPs@N/C), which can reduce O-2 into H2O2 with high selectivity (up to 93%) in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte and retains >90% activity even after 10 h polarization. The catalyst achieves a current density of 1 mA cm(-2) at 0.76 V(RHE) and a peroxide production rate of similar to 3.8mol(H2O2) g(Co)(-1) h(-1) over a 10 h period. Our study also highlights the requirement for good peroxide production catalysts to be poor hydrogen peroxide disproportionation catalysts. We show how the high activity of the Co-NPs@N/C catalyst is correlated with low activity toward the peroxide disproportionation reaction.

Automated summary

The study presents the synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon with high selectivity and activity for reducing oxygen into hydrogen peroxide in alkaline electrolyte, as well as low activity towards hydrogen peroxide disproportionation reaction.