Efficient Acidic H₂O₂ Electrosynthesis over Co Atoms Anchored on Nitrogen-Doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon

Authors

• Xiao Huang, State Key Laboratory of Green and Efficient Development of Phosphorus Resources, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Processing and Application of Catalytic Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang 438000, China
• Zi-Hao Zhan, State Key Laboratory of Green and Efficient Development of Phosphorus Resources, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
• Hao-Xu Niu, State Key Laboratory of Green and Efficient Development of Phosphorus Resources, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
• Guan-Yu Luo, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of China
• Jin-Tao Huang, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of China
• Bo-Xuan Jin, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of China
• De-Li Wang, Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of ChinaFollow

Corresponding Author

De-Li Wang ([email protected])

Abstract

The two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e⁻ ORR) presents a promising route for the on-site production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), offering a green alternative to energy-consuming anthraquinone process. However, the high selectivity toward the competing 4e⁻ ORR over the desired 2e⁻ pathway leads to low Faradaic efficiency for H₂O₂, posing a critical challenge in catalyst design. In this work, a nitrogen-doped hollow hierarchical porous carbon with anchored Co atoms (CoN/HPC) was constructed for high-performance H₂O₂ production. The as-prepared Co-N/HPC catalyst showed excellent 2e⁻ ORR performance, achieving an H₂O₂ selectivity approaching 100% at an applied potential of 0.4 V (vs. RHE). Moreover, the in-situ generated H₂O₂ proved highly effective in degrading organic pollutants, showcasing a dual-functionality for environmental remediation. Physical characterizations and simulations confirmed that the enhanced performance is attributed to the unique hierarchical structure, which facilitates fast electrolyte diffusion and boosts H₂O₂ selectivity. This work opens a new avenue for the design of advanced electrocatalysts that integrate efficient H₂O₂ production with direct application.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Oxygen reduction reaction, Hydrogen peroxide, Electrosynthesis, Nitrogen-doped carbon, Hierarchical structure

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.61558/2993-074X.3620

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Date

2026-09-28

Online Available Date

2026-06-11

Revised Date

2026-05-25

Received Date

2026-04-08

Recommended Citation

Xiao Huang, Zi-Hao Zhan, Hao-Xu Niu, Guan-Yu Luo, Jin-Tao Huang, Bo-Xuan Jin, De-Li Wang. Efficient Acidic H₂O₂ Electrosynthesis over Co Atoms Anchored on Nitrogen-Doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2026, 32(9): 2604091.
DOI: 10.61558/2993-074X.3620
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol32/iss9/2