Intrinsic Carbon Defects for the Electrosynthesis of H2O2

Carbon materials have manifested promising potential in electrochemical reduction of O₂ to H₂O₂. The oxygen functional groups have been identified as the catalytic sites. However, the intrinsic carbon defects abundant in carbon materials have often been neglected. Herein, a three-dimensional carbon framework with abundant intrinsic defects and oxygen functional groups (the oxygen content and chemical states of oxygen are comparable to those of commercial carbon black) was introduced and exhibited outstanding catalytic activity and selectivity toward H₂O₂ electrosynthesis. Through a combination of in situ Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, the intrinsic carbon defects, such as zigzag edge and zigzag pentagon sites with optimal binding energy for OOH, were also determined to be active sites. It was further revealed that intrinsic carbon defects with large negative charge density and asymmetric spin density may have high activity toward H₂O₂ production.