Efficient electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide in neutral media using boron and nitrogen doped carbon catalysts

The two-electron electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (2e- ORR) is a promising, sustainable, and efficient route for on-site and small-scale production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) compared to the conventional anthraquinone oxidation process. Although heteroatom doped carbon materials are widely studied for the 2e- ORR, few studies have been conducted on the synergistic relationship between multiple doping elements on H2O2 performance. Moreover, there is a lack of efficient and stable catalysts for H2O2 electrosynthesis in neutral media. In this work, a series of boron and nitrogen co-doped carbon (BNC) catalysts are synthesized and assessed for the 2e- ORR in neutral pH electrolyte. Through X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy analyses, we characterize B-N-C moieties and correlate them with H2O2 production performance. In rotating ring disk electrode measurements, BNC catalysts pyrolyzed at 900 degrees C exhibit H2O2 Faradaic efficiency of similar to 70% and demonstrate excellent long-term stability over 10 hours of continuous operation. In a three-electrode flow cell, this catalyst achieves similar to 78% H2O2 Faradaic efficiency and 0.9 mmol cm-2 h-1 productivity at 0.20 V vs. RHE, surpassing most previously reported carbon-based catalysts in neutral media. This work contributes fundamental insights into the role of boron and nitrogen heteroatom dopants toward 2e- ORR and highlights the practical viability of these catalysts for real world applications. Linking fundamental insights with high performance for electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production using boron/nitrogen co-doped carbon catalysts in neutral pH.