Innovative engineering strategies and mechanistic insights for enhanced carbon-based electrocatalysts in sustainable...

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) plays a crucial role in various industrial sectors and everyday applications. Given the energy-intensive nature of the current anthraquinone process for its production, the quest for cost-effective, efficient, and stable catalysts for H₂O₂ synthesis is paramount. A promising sustainable approach lies in small-scale, decentralized electrochemical methods. Carbon nanomaterials have emerged as standout candidates, offering low costs, high surface areas, excellent conductivity, and adjustable electronic properties. This review presents a thorough examination of recent strides in engineering strategies of carbon-based nanomaterials for enhanced electrochemical H₂O₂ generation. It delves into tailored microstructures (e.g., 1D, 2D, porous architectures), defect/surface engineering (e.g., edge sites, heteroatom doping, surface modification), and heterostructure assembly (e.g., semiconductor-carbon composites, single-atom, dual-single-atom catalysts). Moreover, the review explores structure-performance interplays in these carbon electrocatalysts, drawing from advanced experimental analyses and theoretical models to unveil the mechanisms governing selective electrocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis. Lastly, this review identifies challenges and charts future research avenues to propel carbon electrocatalysts towards greener and more effective H₂O₂ production methods.