Direct Synthesis of Pure Aqueous H2O2 Solution within Aluminosilicate Zeolite Crystals

The synthesis of H2O2 generally requires multiple mixed organic solvents and/or halide additives, causing complexity in purification. Herein, we overcome this problem by direct synthesis of H2O2 in aqueous solution using AuPd nanoparticles fixed within the aluminosilicate zeolite crystals as a catalyst. The AuPd nanoparticles catalyzed the oxygen hydrogenation to form H2O2 in zeolite crystals via a zeolite-assisted proton transfer process. In addition, the protons also stabilize the H2O2 product against the deprotonation that causes H2O2 decomposition. The H2O2 productivity reached 320 mmol g(AuPd)(-1) h(-1) with a H-2 selectivity of 88% in water, showing significant advances compared with the conventionally supported metal nanoparticle catalysts. These findings highlight the zeolite fixed structure that offers a new way for designing efficient catalysts in H2O2 synthesis.

Automated summary

In this study, AuPd nanoparticles fixed within aluminosilicate zeolite crystals were used as catalysts for the direct synthesis of H2O2 in aqueous solution. The zeolite-assisted proton transfer process catalyzed the oxygen hydrogenation to form H2O2, leading to high productivity and selectivity of H2O2 in water. The findings highlight the potential of zeolite fixed structures for designing efficient catalysts in H2O2 synthesis.