Bi₂Te₃/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Nanomaterials as Catalysts for Thermoelectric Hydrogen Peroxide Generation

Abstract

Harnessing waste heat from environmental or industrial sources presents a promising approach to eco-friendly and sustainable chemical synthesis. In this study, we introduce a thermoelectrocatalytic (TECatal) system capable of utilizing even small amounts of heat for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. We developed a nanohybrid structure, combining carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Bi2Te3 nanoflakes (Bi2Te3/CNTs), through a one-pot synthesis method. Bi2Te3, as a thermoelectric (TE) material, generates charge carriers under a temperature gradient via the Seebeck effect, enabling them to participate in surface redox reactions. However, the rapid recombination of these charge carriers greatly limits the TECatal activity. In the Bi2Te3/CNTs nanohybrid system, the introduction of CNTs substantially enhances the efficiency of H2O2 production, as the strong bonding between CNTs and Bi2Te3, along with the excellent conductivity of CNTs, facilitates charge carrier separation and transport, as confirmed by TE electrochemical tests. This study underscores the significant potential of thermoelectric nanomaterials for converting waste heat into green chemical synthesis.

Keywords

• thermoelectric
• catalysis
• hydrogen peroxide
• carbon nanotube
• charge separation