Tunable, on-Demand H₂O₂ Production via Optimized 2e⁻ ORR Catalyst for Electrolyzer Applications

Electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e⁻ ORR) offers a sustainable alternative to the energy-intensive, petroleum-based anthraquinone process.¹˒² However, widespread adoption remains limited by low production efficiency, largely due to the competing four-electron pathway that reduces O₂ directly to H₂O. Although numerous recent catalysts have demonstrated good 2e⁻ ORR selectivity in laboratory-scale rotating ring–disk electrode (RRDE) measurements,² their performance often deteriorates when implemented in practical electrolyzer systems.³ In this work, we evaluate the 2e⁻ ORR performance of a modified ordered mesoporous carbon–based catalysts using RRDE and subsequently optimize their integration into a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA). This combined approach enables efficient, stable electrosynthesis of H₂O₂ at tunable concentrations, supporting applications in decentralized, on-site, on-demand electrochemical production.