Tuning interfacial proton transfer for directing oxygen reduction reaction toward hydrogen peroxide.

ABSTRACT: Proton transfer at the electrified interface plays a pivotal role in proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions. However, tuning the interfacial proton transfer through the electrolyte remains a largely unexplored yet effective approach for boosting electrochemical performance. Here, we demonstrate that the chelation strength of chelating molecules can serve as a criterion for selecting alkaline electrolyte additives to direct the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) toward hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) electrosynthesis. We reveal that chelating molecules enter the solvation shell of cations, disrupting the long-range connectivity of hydrogen-bond networks by forming rigid near-range hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen-bond networks serve as a channel for proton transfer throug

SUBMITTER: Fan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12604015 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature