Bi₂Te₃/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Nanomaterials as Catalysts for Thermoelectric Hydrogen Peroxide Generation

Harnessing waste heat from environmental or industrial sources presents a promising approach to eco-friendly and sustainable chemical synthesis. In this study, we introduce a thermoelectrocatalytic (TECatal) system capable of utilizing even small amounts of heat for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production. We developed a nanohybrid structure, combining carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Bi₂Te₃ nanoflakes (Bi₂Te₃/CNTs), through a one-pot synthesis method. Bi₂Te₃, as a thermoelectric (TE) material, generates charge carriers under a temperature gradient via the Seebeck effect, enabling them to participate in surface redox reactions. However, the rapid recombination of these charge carriers greatly limits the TECatal activity. In the Bi₂Te₃/CNTs nanohybrid system, the introduction of CNTs substantially enhances the efficiency of H₂O₂ production, as the strong bonding between CNTs and Bi₂Te₃, along with the excellent conductivity of CNTs, facilitates charge carrier separation and transport, as confirmed by TE electrochemical tests. This study underscores the significant potential of thermoelectric nanomaterials for converting waste heat into green chemical synthesis.