CoTe nanoparticle-embedded N-doped hollow carbon polyhedron: an efficient catalyst for HO electrosynthesis in acidic media

Rational design and development of high-efficiency electrocatalytic materials made from earth-abundant elements for H 2 O 2 generation via a two-electron O 2 reduction reaction (2e − ORR) is of crucial significance but still challenging. Here, we demonstrate that CoTe nanoparticles embedded in a nitrogen-doped hollow carbon polyhedron (CoTe@NC) can be adopted as a highly selective and stable 2e − ORR electrocatalyst. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between the highly active CoTe nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped hollow carbon polyhedron, in 0.1 M HClO 4 , the CoTe@NC hybrid exhibits superb electrocatalytic activity toward the 2e − ORR with high selectivity of up to 92.6% and a large H 2 O 2 production rate of 297.9 ppm h −1 at −0.044 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Moreover, it operates rather stably under the working conditions with a negligible current decrease after 12 h. Theoretical calculations further provide insight into the catalytic mechanism involved . CoTe nanoparticles embedded nitrogen-doped hollow carbon polyhedron (CoTe@NC) acts as a highly efficient 2e − O 2 reduction reaction electrocatalyst with a high selectivity of up to 92.6% at 0.3 V, significantly outperforming CoTe and NC counterparts.