Instrument-Free and Autonomous Generation of H2O2 from Mg–ZnO/Au Hybrids for Disinfection and Organic Pollutant Degradations

We proposed a new hybrid system that autonomously generates H 2 O 2 without any instrument or external energy source, such as light. Electrons formed during spontaneous degradation process of Mg were conveyed to ZnO/Au oxygen–reduction–reaction nanocatalysts, and these transferred electrons converted O 2 molecules in aqueous solution into H 2 O 2 . Autonomously released H 2 O 2 from Mg–ZnO/Au hybrids effectively killed 97% of Escherichia coli cells within 1 h. Moreover, Mg–ZnO/Au nanohybrids could gradually degrade methylene blue over time with Fe 2+ . We believe our approach utilizing degradable metals and catalytic metal oxides in mesoporous-film form can be a promising method in the field of environment remediation.