Glucose-Tuned Electrode-Electrolyte Interface Microenvironment for Electrosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide.

Abstract

Designing high performance and stable electrode-electrolyte interfaces for electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) remains of great challenge. Herein, glucose tuned electrode-electrolyte microenvironment is created successfully due to the adsorption of graphite felt (GF). The Faraday efficiency of H₂O₂ can be improved 30% by adding glucose to the electrolyte. Nuclear magnetic resonance, in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared, and molecular dynamics simulation confirm the existence of hydrogen bonding between glucose and water molecules in the local microenvironment, where the suitable *H supply environment favours the 2e^- oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This work provides a new method to improve 2e^- ORR activity, proving the effectiveness of adding organic molecules to regulate the interfacial hydrogen bond environment.