Atomic-level tuning of Co–N–C catalyst for high-performance electrochemical H2O2 production

Despite the growing demand for hydrogen peroxide it is almost exclusively manufactured by the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. Alternatively, H 2 O 2 can be produced electrochemically via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction, although the performance of the state-of-the-art electrocatal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature materials 2020-04, Vol.19 (4), p.436-442
Main Authors: Jung, Euiyeon, Shin, Heejong, Lee, Byoung-Hoon, Efremov, Vladimir, Lee, Suhyeong, Lee, Hyeon Seok, Kim, Jiheon, Hooch Antink, Wytse, Park, Subin, Lee, Kug-Seung, Cho, Sung-Pyo, Yoo, Jong Suk, Sung, Yung-Eun, Hyeon, Taeghwan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/301/299
639/638/77/886
Anthraquinones
Biomaterials
Chemistry and Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Electrocatalysts
Electrochemistry
Electrodes
First principles
Graphene
Hydrogen peroxide
Industrial development
Industrialization
Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Nitrogen
Optical and Electronic Materials
Oxygen reduction reactions
Performance enhancement
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Summary:Despite the growing demand for hydrogen peroxide it is almost exclusively manufactured by the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. Alternatively, H 2 O 2 can be produced electrochemically via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction, although the performance of the state-of-the-art electrocatalysts is insufficient to meet the demands for industrialization. Interestingly, guided by first-principles calculations, we found that the catalytic properties of the Co–N 4 moiety can be tailored by fine-tuning its surrounding atomic configuration to resemble the structure-dependent catalytic properties of metalloenzymes. Using this principle, we designed and synthesized a single-atom electrocatalyst that comprises an optimized Co–N 4 moiety incorporated in nitrogen-doped graphene for H 2 O 2 production and exhibits a kinetic current density of 2.8 mA cm −2 (at 0.65 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode) and a mass activity of 155 A g −1 (at 0.65 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode) with negligible activity loss over 110 hours. Producing H 2 O 2 electrochemically currently use electrocatalysts that are insufficient to meet the demands for industrialization. A single-atom electrocatalyst with an optimized Co–N4 moiety incorporated in nitrogen-doped graphene is shown to exhibit enhanced performance for H 2 O 2 production.
ISSN:1476-1122
1476-4660
DOI:10.1038/s41563-019-0571-5