Supramolecular tuning of supported metal phthalocyanine catalysts for hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis

Two-electron oxygen reduction offers a route to H2O2 that is potentially cost-effective and less energy-intensive than the industrial anthraquinone process. However, the catalytic performance of the highest performing prior heterogeneous electrocatalysts to H2O2 has lain well below the > 300 mA cm(-2) needed for capital efficiency. Herein, guided by computation, we present a supramolecular approach that utilizes oxygen functional groups in a carbon nanotube substrate that-when coupled with a cobalt phthalocyanine catalyst-improve cobalt phthalocyanine adsorption, preventing agglomeration; and that further generate an electron-deficient Co centre whose interaction with the key H2O2 intermediate is tuned towards optimality. The catalysts exhibit an overpotential of 280 mV at 300 mA cm(-2) with turnover frequencies over 50 s(-1) in a neutral medium, an order of magnitude higher activity compared with the highest performing prior H2O2 electrocatalysts. This performance is sustained for over 100 h of operation.

Automated summary

Researchers have developed a supramolecular approach using a carbon nanotube substrate and a cobalt phthalocyanine catalyst to improve the efficiency and stability of two-electron oxygen reduction for H2O2 production. This approach shows significant improvement compared to the state-of-the-art electrocatalysts, with higher activity and sustained performance.