O2-Independent H2O2 Production via Water–Polymer Contact Electrification

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), as a critical green chemical, has received immense attention in energy and environmental fields. The ability to produce H₂O₂ in earth-abundant water without relying on low solubility oxygen would be a sustainable and potentially economic process, applicable even to anaerobic microenvironments, such as groundwater treatment. However, the direct water to H₂O₂ process is currently hindered by low selectivity and low production rates. Herein, we report that poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), a commonly used inert polymer, can act as an efficient triboelectric catalyst for H₂O₂ generation. For example, a high H₂O₂ production rate of 24.8 mmol g_cat^-1 h^-1 at a dosage of 0.01 g/L PTFE was achieved under the condition of pure water, ambient atmosphere, and no sacrificial agents, which exceeds the performance of state-of-the-art aqueous H₂O₂ powder catalysts. Electron spin resonance and isotope experiments provide strong evidence that water-PTFE tribocatalysis can directly oxidize water to produce H₂O₂ under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions, albeit with different synthetic pathways. This study demonstrates a potential strategy for green and effective tribocatalytic H₂O₂ production that may be particularly useful toward environmental applications.