Phosphorus-Induced Electron Pump Enhances O2 Activation for Electrocatalytic H2O2 Production

Electrochemical two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e– ORR) to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is attractive, but poor H2O2 selectivity and activity need to be overcome. Herein, a phosphorus-induced electron pump is demonstrated. The H2O2 selectivity reaches >90% (93.5% at 0.5 V) in the potential range of 0.2∼0.7 V. The Faradaic efficiency achieves 94.2% at 0.6 V. In situ Raman experiment and density functional theory calculation indicate that the O2 adsorption and activation are enhanced. The *OOH intermediates are formed at a more positive potential. Furthermore, the universal mechanism of the electron pump is extended. At last, the potential to degrade antibiotics, Escherichia coli, etc., on site is confirmed. This work displays that the phosphorus-induced electron pump activates O2, which provides an insight into the electrocatalytic 2e– ORR.