Search

In an article published in Advanced Energy Materials, researchers describe a paired electrochemical reactor that can continuously produce ethylene and hydrogen peroxide. The reactor achieved a combined Faraday efficiency of 120% and an energy efficiency of 69% when operated at 200 mA cm−2 for 50 hours. Additionally, the reactor's overall electrical energy consumption was reduced by 50%. This research has implications for the sustainable production of chemicals and fuels using carbon dioxide reduction and water oxidation reactions. [Extracted from the article]

Electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), via the two‐electron water oxidation reaction (2e− WOR), is an attractive method for the sustainable production of valuable chemicals in place of oxygen during water electrolysis. While the majority of 2e− WOR studies have focussed on electrocatalyst design, little research has been carried out on the selection of the supporting electrolyte. In this work, we investigate the impact of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) electrolytes, and their key properties, on H2O2 production. We found that at electrolyte pH values (>9.5) where the carbonate anion (CO32−) was prevalent in the mixture, a 26.5 % increase in the Faraday efficiency (%FE) for H2O2 production was achieved, compared to bicarbonate (HCO3−) dominant solutions. Utilising boron‐doped diamond (BDD) in highly concentrated K2CO3 solutions, current densities of up to 511 mA cm−2 (in 4 m) and %FEs of 91.5 % (in 5 m) could be attained. The results presented in this work highlight the influence of CO32− on electrochemical H2O2 generation via the 2e− WOR and provide novel pathways to produce desirable commodities at the anode during electrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]