Constructing Interfacial Boron‐Nitrogen Moieties in Turbostratic Carbon for Electrochemical Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Abstract

The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) provides a green route for decentralized H₂ O₂ synthesis, where a structure-selectivity relationship is pivotal for the control of a highly selective and active two-electron pathway. Here, we report the fabrication of a boron and nitrogen co-doped turbostratic carbon catalyst with tunable B-N-C configurations (CNB-ZIL) by the assistance of a zwitterionic liquid (ZIL) for electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production. Combined spectroscopic analysis reveals a fine tailored B-N moiety in CNB-ZIL, where interfacial B-N species in a homogeneous distribution tend to segregate into hexagonal boron nitride domains at higher pyrolysis temperatures. Based on the experimental observations, a correlation between the interfacial B-N moieties and HO₂ ^- selectivity is established. The CNB-ZIL electrocatalysts with optimal interfacial B-N moieties exhibit a high HO₂ ^- selectivity with small overpotentials in alkaline media, giving a HO₂ ^- yield of ≈1787 mmol g_catalyst ^-1 h^-1 at -1.4 V in a flow-cell reactor.