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arXiv · 2505.13800

Experimental and theoretical studies of WO3-Vulcan XC-72 electrocatalyst enhanced H2O2 yield ORR performed in acid and alkaline medium

João Paulo C Moura·Lanna EB Lucchetti·Caio M Fernandes·Aline B Trench·Camila N Lange·Bruno L Batista·James M Almeida·Mauro C Santos
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Abstract

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) plays a pivotal role in clean energy generation and sustainable chemical production, particularly in the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H\textsubscript{2}O\textsubscript{2}). In this study, WO\textsubscript{3}/Vulcan-XC72 electrocatalysts were synthesized and characterized for ORR applications, evaluating the WO\textsubscript{3} to Vulcan-XC72 ratio and examining electrolyte pH effects across acidic and alkaline media. Structural characterization confirmed successful synthesis of monoclinic WO\textsubscript{3} with nanoflower morphology, which enhanced surface hydrophilicity and oxygen functional groups. Electrochemical tests demonstrated WO\textsubscript{3}/C's superior H\textsubscript{2}O\textsubscript{2} selectivity compared to pure Vulcan-XC72 in both media, revealing a pH-dependent ORR mechanism. Using WO\textsubscript{3}/C gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs), we achieved 862,mg,L\textsuperscript{-1} H\textsubscript{2}O\textsubscript{2} accumulation after 120,min at 100,mA,cm\textsuperscript{-2}. The enhanced performance stems from increased oxygen functional groups, improved hydrophilicity, and WO\textsubscript{3} nanoflower synergistic effects, as supported by theoretical calculations, establishing WO\textsubscript{3}/Vulcan as a promising catalyst for electrochemical H\textsubscript{2}O\textsubscript{2} production.

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BibTeXRIS

João Paulo C Moura, Lanna EB Lucchetti, Caio M Fernandes, Aline B Trench, Camila N Lange, Bruno L Batista, James M Almeida, Mauro C Santos. 2025-05-20. Experimental and theoretical studies of WO3-Vulcan XC-72 electrocatalyst enhanced H2O2 yield ORR performed in acid and alkaline medium. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.113182

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