Efficient electrochemical generation of hydrogen peroxide via oxygen reduction is of great interest for industrial and clean energy applications. In this work, we report the application of conducting polymer-polyindole (PIN) films for electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide. Polyindole films were electrochemically polymerized on gold substrates in non-aqueous electrolytes and then tested for electrocatalytic properties in acidic aqueous solutions. We find that PIN can serve as an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction via a two-electron pathway. Electrolysis performance indicates that PIN is an efficient, selective, and stable electrocatalyst for hydrogen peroxide generation at low pH, and suggests PIN as a conducting polymer with useful electrocatalytic properties in scientific experiments and applications. (C) 2020 The Electrochemical Society ("ECS"). Published on behalf of ECS by IOP Publishing Limited.
Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation; National Science Center (NCN), Poland, under Opus project [2018/29/B/ST5/02627]; Wallenberg Wood Science Centre; KAW