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 g_cat^-1 h^-1), and durability for H₂O₂ electrogeneration by the two-electron pathway of ORR.