Hydrogen peroxide activation driven by solid-liquid contact electrification

Contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) offers a route for reactive oxygen species generation but is typically limited by kinetically unfavorable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) pathway. Here, we report a H₂O₂-driven CEC pathway at solid-liquid interfaces using fluoropolymers. Contact electrification induces electron transfer from aqueous species to the fluoropolymer surface, forming negatively charged intermediates that reduce H₂O₂ to generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Density functional theory reveals a more favorable energy-level alignment than conventional ORR pathways, enabling efficient •OH production under mild stirring or vortex mixing without ultrasound. Electrical measurements, electron spin resonance, mass spectrometry, and interfacial fluorescence imaging collectively show that •OH generation is spatially confined to the solid-liquid interface and governed by localized charge transfer. The H₂O₂-driven pathway achieves ~3.6-fold higher catalytic activity than ORR-based CEC, with excellent stability and recyclability. Ultrasound further enhances performance, enabling efficient disinfection of real water samples and contaminated dental devices. These results establish H₂O₂-driven CEC as a general interfacial electron-transfer mechanism and a practical strategy for scalable ROS generation.