Electrochemically synthesized H2O2 at industrial-level current densities enabled by in situ fabricated few-layer boron nanosheets

Carbon nanomaterials show outstanding promise as electrocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) synthesis via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction. However, carbon-based electrocatalysts that are capable of generating H 2 O 2 at industrial-level current densities (>300 mA cm −2 ) with high selectivity and long-term stability remain to be discovered. Herein, few-layer boron nanosheets are in-situ introduced into a porous carbon matrix, creating a metal-free electrocatalyst (B n -C) with H 2 O 2 production rates of industrial relevance in neutral or alkaline media. B n -C maintained > 95% Faradaic efficiency during a 140-hour test at 300 mA cm −2 and 0.1 V vs. RHE, and delivered a mass activity of 25.1 mol g catalyst −1 h −1 in 1.0 M Na 2 SO 4 using a flow cell. Theoretical simulations and experimental studies demonstrate that the superior catalytic performance originates from B atoms with adsorbed O atoms in the boron nanosheets. B n -C outperforms all metal-based and metal-free carbon catalysts reported to date for H 2 O 2 synthesis at industrial-level current densities. Carbon nanomaterials show promise for H 2 O 2 synthesis, but carbon electrocatalysts with industrial-level performance and stability require more research. Here the authors report few-layer boron nanosheets for H 2 O 2 electrochemical production with > 95% Faradaic efficiency during 140-hour test at 300 mA cm -2 .