Enhanced electrocatalytic performance for H2O2 generation by boron-doped porous carbon hollow spheres
Zhaohui Wang,
Zehan Sun,
Kun Li,
Keyi Fan,
Tian Tian,
Haomin Jiang,
Honglei Jin,
Ang Li,
Yang Tang,
Yanzhi Sun,
Pingyu Wan,
Yongmei Chen
Affiliations
Zhaohui Wang
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Zehan Sun
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China; State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, P.R. China
Kun Li
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Keyi Fan
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Tian Tian
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Haomin Jiang
Center for Advanced Materials Research, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, P.R. China
Honglei Jin
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Ang Li
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Yang Tang
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Yanzhi Sun
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Pingyu Wan
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
Yongmei Chen
Institute of Applied Electrochemistry, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China; Corresponding author
Summary: Electrocatalytic generation of H2O2 via the 2-electron pathway of oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) is an attractive technology compared to the anthraquinone process due to convenience and environmental friendliness. However, catalysts with excellent selectivity and high activity for 2e-ORR are necessary for practical applications. Reported here is a catalyst comprising boron-doped porous carbon hollow spheres (B-PCHSs) prepared using the hard template method coupled with borate transesterification. In an alkali electrolyte, the selectivity of B-PCHS for 2e-ORR above 90% in range of 0.4–0.7 VRHE and an onset potential of 0.833 V was obtained. Meanwhile, the generation rate of H2O2 reached 902.48 mmol h−1 gcat−1 at 0.4 VRHE under 59.13 mA cm−2 in batch electrolysis. The excellent catalytic selectivity of B-PCHS for 2e-ORR originates from the boron element, and the catalytic activity of B-PCHS for H2O2 generation is contributed to the morphology of porous hollow spheres, which facilitates mass transfer processes.
