Modified graphene could transform the production of hydrogen peroxide for industrial use as a bleaching agent or disinfectant, according to researchers at the University of Bath.
The new production process, which uses a material with a structure similar to the two-dimensional (2D) material, reportedly produces higher yields than current methods and could be more cost effective and environmentally friendly.
Hydrogen peroxide is a critical component in a wide range of disinfection and chemical processes, releasing chemical energy to break down pollutants. The market for ‘electronic grade’ hydrogen peroxide is estimated to grow to $2.2bn by 2032.
The researchers used a 3D sponge-like carbon scaffold known as Gii, from Scottish firm Integrated Graphene, which the company claimed has “all the desired properties of graphene yet does not suffer any of its scale-up issues”.
In the new research, Gii-based electrodes effectively produced hydrogen peroxide at four-times the rate of current methods.
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