A Pentagonal Defect-Rich Metal-Free Carbon Electrocatalyst for Boosting Acidic O2 Reduction to H2O2 Production

Metal-free carbon-based materials are considered one of the most promising two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e– ORR) electrocatalysts for the green synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, most reported carbon electrocatalysts perform much more effectively in alkalis than in acids. Herein, by creatively using fullerene (C60) as the precursor subject to ammonia treatment, we designed and synthesized a pentagonal defect-rich nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterial (PD/N–C). It achieves outstanding ORR activity, 2e– selectivity, and stability in acidic electrolytes, surpassing the benchmark PtHg4 alloy catalyst. Impressively, the flow cell based on the PD/N–C catalyst achieves nearly 100% Faraday efficiency with a remarkable H2O2 yield, representing the best improvement among all the metal-free catalysts. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that such superb 2e– ORR performance of PD/N–C originates from the synergism between pentagonal defects and nitrogen dopants. This work presents an effective strategy for the design and construction of highly efficient acid-resistant carbon electrocatalysts for H2O2 production and beyond.