Enhancing the selectivity of H₂O₂ electrogeneration by steric hindrance effect

Abstract

Selective hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) electrogeneration by oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an efficient and promising synthetic method for H2O2 production. Herein, we build a particular inorganic–organic interface to enhance the electrocatalytic selectivity of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogels for H2O2 electrogeneration by modifying rGO aerogels with polyethyleneimine (PEI). The three-dimensional porous structure of aerogels and the steric hindrance effect of PEI on rGO endow PEI-functionalized rGO (rGO/PEI) aerogels with enhanced selectivity (90.7%), production rate (106.4 mmol gcat–1 h–1), and durability for H2O2 electrogeneration by the two-electron pathway of ORR.