A Selective Copper Based Oxygen Reduction Catalyst for the Electrochemical Synthesis of H2O2 at Neutral pH

ChemElectroChem, vol. 9, pp. e202101692

Abstract

Abstract H2O2 is a bulk chemical used as “green” alternative in a variety of applications, but has an energy and waste intensive production method. The electrochemical O2 reduction to H2O2 is viable alternative with examples of the direct production of up to 20% H2O2 solutions. In that respect, we found that the dinuclear complex Cu2(btmpa) (6,6’‐bis[[bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)amino]methyl]‐2,2’‐bipyridine) reduces O2 to H2O2 with a selectivity up to 90 % according to single linear sweep rotating ring disk electrode measurements. Microbalance experiments showed that complex reduction leads to surface adsorption thereby increasing the catalytic current. More importantly, we kept a high Faradaic efficiency for H2O2 between 60 and 70 % over the course of 2 h of amperometry by introducing high potential intervals to strip deposited copper (depCu). This is the first example of extensive studies into the long term electrochemical O2 to H2O2 reduction by a molecular complex which allowed to retain the high intrinsic selectivity of Cu2(btmpa) towards H2O2 production leading to relevant levels of H2O2.

Authors 4

1. Rick Kinders Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Institute of Chemistry Leiden University P. O. Box 9502 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P. O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The, Netherlands

2. Thimo H. Ferber

   Technische Universität Darmstadt

   Affiliation as printed

   Surface Science Laboratory Department of Materials and Earth Sciences Technical University of Darmstadt Otto-Berndt-Strasse 3 64287 Darmstadt Germany

   Surface Science Laboratory, Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Technical University of Darmstadt, Otto-Berndt-Strasse 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany

3. Jan P. Hofmann

   Technische Universität Darmstadt

   Affiliation as printed

   Surface Science Laboratory Department of Materials and Earth Sciences Technical University of Darmstadt Otto-Berndt-Strasse 3 64287 Darmstadt Germany

   Surface Science Laboratory, Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Technical University of Darmstadt, Otto-Berndt-Strasse 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany

4. Dennis G. H. Hetterscheid corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Institute of Chemistry Leiden University P. O. Box 9502 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P. O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The, Netherlands