Tuning Two‐Electron Oxygen‐Reduction Pathways for H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> Electrosynthesis via Engineering Atomically Dispersed Single Metal Site Catalysts
Xiaoxuan Yang, Yachao Zeng, Wajdi Alnoush, Yang Hou, Drew Higgins, Gang Wu
Abstract
Abstract The hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) generation via the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) under ambient conditions is emerging as an alternative and green strategy to the traditional energy‐intensive anthraquinone process and unsafe direct synthesis using H 2 and O 2 . It enables on‐site and decentralized H 2 O 2 production using air and renewable electricity for various applications. Currently, atomically dispersed single metal site catalysts have emerged as the most promising platinum group metal (PGM)‐free electrocatalysts for the ORR. Further tuning their central metal sites, coordination environments, and local structures can be highly active and selective for H 2 O 2 production via the 2e − ORR. Herein, recent methodologies and achievements on developing single metal site catalysts for selective O 2 to H 2 O 2 reduction are summarized. Combined with theoretical computation and advanced characterization, a structure–property correlation to guide rational catalyst design with a favorable 2e − ORR process is aimed to provide. Due to the oxidative nature of H 2 O 2 and the derived free radicals, catalyst stability and effective solutions to improve catalyst tolerance to H 2 O 2 are emphasized. Transferring intrinsic catalyst properties to electrode performance for viable applications always remains a grand challenge. The key performance metrics and knowledge during the electrolyzer development are, therefore, highlighted.