Biomass-derived carbon-based catalysts for electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

H₂O₂ is one of the most important chemicals in the world. Recently, the electrochemical synthesis of H₂O₂ by two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e⁻ ORR) has attracted great interest. Carbon-based catalysts show great promise for electrocatalytic production of H₂O₂, due to the ease of regulation of the carbon materials with regard to the pore structure, surface properties, and heteroatom doping. Biomass as the carbon precursor has the advantages of low cost, sustainable supply, and extensive availability. Conversion of biomass to functional carbon-based materials shows the attractive merits, such as low carbon emission in the life cycle and diversity of the obtained carbon materials due to the wide source of biomass feedstocks. In this article, a comprehensive review on the mechanisms and processes of electrochemical synthesis of H₂O₂ by 2e⁻ ORR over carbon-based catalysts is provided. The potential biomass feedstock used for obtaining the carbon-based catalysts, and the strategies to prepare the catalysts by carbonization and heteroatom doping, as well as optimization of electrodes and design of electrolyzer, are discussed. It is recommended that future work focus on developing efficient methods to prepare the catalysts from low-cost biomass feedstock, understanding the mechanisms of 2e⁻ ORR over the catalysts, optimization of electrode materials loaded with biomass-derived catalysts, as well as development of electrolyzers for larger-scale applications.