journal article·2026-04Open access

Regulating Interfacial Hydrogen‐Bonding Connectivity by Oxygen Vacancies‐Driven [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3− Coordination for Boosting Hydrogen Peroxide Electrosynthesis

Kaiming Li, Ben Huang, Aihao Xu, Kai Nie, Xianhai Bai, Qian Ning, Guodong Wang, Shiming Qiu, Huibing He, Yang Ren, Jing Xu, Xucai Yin

Carbon Energy· Volume 8· Issue 4

Abstract

ABSTRACT The inherent hydroxide‐rich (OH⁻) environment in alkaline media facilitates the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e − ORR). However, the strong interaction between alkali metal cations and solvated water molecules significantly reduces the connectivity of the hydrogen bond network within the alkaline electric double layer, thereby severely impeding rapid proton transport at the electrode surface. Herein, we rationally designed ZnO with oxygen vacancies‐driven [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3− coordination (denoted as Fe(CN) 6 ‐ZnO‐V O ) as an efficient 2e − ORR catalyst for H 2 O 2 electrosynthesis. We demonstrate that the locally coordinated [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3− establishes pathways for rapid proton transfer at the electrode surface by forming a hydrogen bond network with interfacial water molecules. Concurrently, this configuration significantly reduces the energy barrier of the *OOH intermediate. These synergistic effects collectively optimize the electrocatalytic performance for H 2 O 2 production under alkaline conditions. As expected, the Fe(CN) 6 ‐ZnO‐V O delivers a significantly increased current density of 130 mA cm −2 that is much higher than ZnO (32 mA cm −2 ), as well as a superior H 2 O 2 production rate of 9.41 mol g cat −1 h −1 and a high faradaic efficiency of exceeds 90%. Our study highlights the crucial role of interfacial hydrogen‐bonding connectivity and provides theoretical and technical guidance for developing reliable strategies to enhance the electrocatalytic properties of 2e − ORR.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Metal-Catalyzed Oxygenation Mechanisms · CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangxi University Nanning Guangxi China

Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Nanning Guangxi China

Chongzuo Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization Technology of Manganese Resources; Guangxi Key Laboratory for High‐value Utilization of Manganese Resources, college of Chemistry and Biological Engineering Guangxi minzu normal University Chongzuo Guangxi China

State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai China

References (55)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1039/D3TA02346J10.1039/D3TA02346J ↗
2. 10.1038/s41467-020-20445-010.1038/s41467-020-20445-0 ↗
3. 10.1016/j.watres.2022.11950310.1016/j.watres.2022.119503 ↗
4. 10.1007/s11434-014-0694-710.1007/s11434-014-0694-7 ↗
5. 10.1007/s10311-021-01180-410.1007/s10311-021-01180-4 ↗
6. 10.1002/adma.20210489110.1002/adma.202104891 ↗
7. 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.07.00510.1016/j.chempr.2023.07.005 ↗
8. 10.1038/s41467-024-44899-810.1038/s41467-024-44899-8 ↗
9. 10.1038/nmat379510.1038/nmat3795 ↗
10. 10.1021/nl500037x10.1021/nl500037x ↗
11. 10.1021/ja206477z10.1021/ja206477z ↗
12. 10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.12462510.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124625 ↗
13. 10.1021/acsami.8b1170310.1021/acsami.8b11703 ↗
14. 10.1038/s41467-020-17782-510.1038/s41467-020-17782-5 ↗
15. 10.1002/adfm.20191053910.1002/adfm.201910539 ↗
16. 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.12286710.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122867 ↗
17. 10.1038/s41929-021-00618-w10.1038/s41929-021-00618-w ↗
18. 10.1039/D3TA06995H10.1039/D3TA06995H ↗
19. 10.1002/anie.20241315910.1002/anie.202413159 ↗
20. 10.1016/j.cej.2022.13908810.1016/j.cej.2022.139088 ↗
21. 10.1039/D4EE03482A10.1039/D4EE03482A ↗
22. 10.1002/cey2.7009710.1002/cey2.70097 ↗
23. 10.1016/j.cej.2021.13175710.1016/j.cej.2021.131757 ↗
24. 10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.12187910.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121879 ↗
25. 10.1002/cey2.7003210.1002/cey2.70032 ↗
26. 10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.15593210.1016/j.apsusc.2022.155932 ↗
27. 10.1016/j.cej.2024.15490210.1016/j.cej.2024.154902 ↗
28. 10.1016/j.cej.2021.13253110.1016/j.cej.2021.132531 ↗
29. 10.1002/adfm.20240059810.1002/adfm.202400598 ↗
30. 10.1002/cey2.7004810.1002/cey2.70048 ↗
31. 10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.12203310.1016/j.apcatb.2022.122033 ↗
32. 10.1002/aenm.20230240310.1002/aenm.202302403 ↗
33. 10.1016/j.cej.2023.14583110.1016/j.cej.2023.145831 ↗
34. 10.1002/smll.20230394610.1002/smll.202303946 ↗
35. 10.1021/acscatal.4c0258710.1021/acscatal.4c02587 ↗
36. 10.1016/j.cej.2021.13229910.1016/j.cej.2021.132299 ↗
37. 10.1016/j.mtener.2023.10143010.1016/j.mtener.2023.101430 ↗
38. 10.1016/j.cej.2023.14346910.1016/j.cej.2023.143469 ↗
39. 10.1002/cey2.44410.1002/cey2.444 ↗
40. 10.1002/anie.20231391410.1002/anie.202313914 ↗
41. 10.1002/anie.20211083810.1002/anie.202110838 ↗
42. 10.1039/D4QI02027H10.1039/D4QI02027H ↗
43. 10.1039/C9TA12207A10.1039/C9TA12207A ↗
44. 10.1002/cey2.7005510.1002/cey2.70055 ↗
45. 10.1021/jacs.5c0745910.1021/jacs.5c07459 ↗
46. 10.1002/cey2.7006610.1002/cey2.70066 ↗
47. 10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.12334410.1016/j.apcatb.2023.123344 ↗
48. 10.1021/jacs.3c1366010.1021/jacs.3c13660 ↗
49. 10.1002/anie.20231699110.1002/anie.202316991 ↗
50. 10.1002/anie.20231441410.1002/anie.202314414 ↗
51. 10.1002/anie.20240757810.1002/anie.202407578 ↗
52. 10.1038/s41467-024-45243-w10.1038/s41467-024-45243-w ↗
53. 10.1002/cey2.7006910.1002/cey2.70069 ↗
54. 10.1002/anie.20240150110.1002/anie.202401501 ↗
55. 10.1021/jacs.1c0218610.1021/jacs.1c02186 ↗