Water Reactivity in Electrified Interfaces: The Simultaneous Production of Electricity, Hydrogen, and Hydrogen Peroxide at Room Temperature

Hygroelectric cells deliver hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, and electric current simultaneously at room temperature from liquid water or vapor. Different cell arrangements allowed the electrical measurements and the detection and measurement of the reaction products by two methods each. Thermodynamic analysis shows that water dehydrogenation is a non spontaneous reaction under standard conditions, but it can occur within an open, non-electroneutral system, thus supporting the experimental results. That is a new example of chemical reactivity modification in charged interfaces, analogous to the hydrogen peroxide formation in charged aqueous aerosol droplets. Extension of the experimental methods and the thermodynamic analysis used in this work may allow the prediction of interesting new chemical reactions that are otherwise unexpected. On the other hand, this adds a new facet to the complex behavior of interfaces. Hygroelectric cells shown in this work are built from commodity materials, using standard laboratory or industrial processes that are easily scaled up. Thus, hygroelectricity may eventually become a source of energy and valuable chemicals.

Automated summary

Hygroelectric cells can simultaneously deliver hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, and electric current from liquid water or vapor at room temperature. Water dehydrogenation is a non-spontaneous reaction under standard conditions but can occur in an open, non-electroneutral system, supporting the experimental results. This research provides a new example of chemical reactivity modification in charged interfaces and has the potential to predict unexpected new chemical reactions through experimental methods and thermodynamic analysis. Hygroelectric cells, built from common materials using scalable processes, may eventually become a source of energy and valuable chemicals.