Direct synthesis of H2O2 by spatially separate hydrogen and oxygen activation sites on tailored Pt–Au catalysts

Zhang, Ying, Lewis, Richard J., Li, Zhichao, He, Xiaohui, Ji, Hongbing and Hutchings, Graham J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8885-1560 2025. Direct synthesis of H2O2 by spatially separate hydrogen and oxygen activation sites on tailored Pt–Au catalysts. Angewandte Chemie International Edition , e21118. 10.1002/anie.202521118

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (2MB)

Abstract

The direct synthesis of H2O2 is considered an atom-efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable alternative to replace the current industrial route of the anthraquinone oxidation process. To date a viable direct replacement for the current industrial method of H2O2 production has yet to emerge, owing to the strong dissociation abilities of traditional Pd-based catalysts for both H2 and O2, which results in the over hydrogenation of H2O2 and limited catalytic activity. To address these concerns, this work outlines a novel non-Pd-based catalyst (Pt1Aun/TiO2), consisting of spatially separated H2 and O2 activation sites, which offers H2O2 selectivity (∼100%) and productivity (128.6 mol·gN.M.−1·h−1), in excess of state-of-the-art formulations. Crucially, via consecutive reactions, this system achieves net H2O2 concentrations approaching 4 wt.%, which is double that generated in the initial stages of the Anthraquinone Oxidation Process. A detailed mechanistic study indicates that Pt single atoms selectively dissociate H2, while Au nanoparticles stabilize non-dissociative *O2− species. The H2O2 formation proceeds through CH2O-mediated hydrogen transfer, generating a hydrogen carrier (*CH2OH) that subsequently reacts with *O2− to produce H2O2.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Chemistry Research Institutes & Centres > Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI)
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1433-7851
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	24 November 2025
Date of Acceptance:	7 November 2025
Last Modified:	24 Nov 2025 11:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/182590

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item