Hydrogen Peroxide Production from Water Oxidation on a CuWO4 Anode in Oxygen-Deficient Conditions for Water Decontamination

Hydrogen peroxide, an environmentally benign oxidant, is an effective chemical agent for water purification. On-site production of H2O2 is considered economical because it avoids the cost of storage and transportation. Traditional generation of H2O2 from oxygen reduction, as a heterogeneous electrochemical reaction, suffers from mass transfer problems because of the limited solubility and low diffusion rate of oxygen in water. These limitations can be overcome if H2O2 is formed by water oxidation. Herein, conversion of water to hydrogen peroxide was achieved efficiently on a CuWO4 anode. This water oxidation strategy can generate H2O2 at a rate of similar to 11.8 mu mol min(-1) cm(-2) at 3.0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Importantly, this on-site H2O2 production shows high efficiency in water purification in O-2-deficient conditions. This water oxidation anode offers a feasible way to provide a green purification agent with only water as the final byproduct, avoiding toxic intermediates and residues during the production and application.

Automated summary

This study presents an efficient method to convert water into hydrogen peroxide through water oxidation on a CuWO4 anode. The on-site production of hydrogen peroxide offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for water purification, even under O2-deficient conditions.