Highly graphitized porous carbons with high potassium content derived from Indian long pepper: A metal-free electrocatalyst for enhanced electrochemical H₂O₂production

The development of sustainable and cost-effective electrocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production is essential for advancing green chemical synthesis. In this study, a highly graphitized, potassium-rich porous biocarbon was synthesized via a single-step carbonization process using Indian long pepper biomass as a precursor, presenting a promising candidate for high-performance H2O2 production. Unlike conventional methods requiring external chemical activators, this approach leverages naturally occurring potassium within the biomass to facilitate in-situ activation and graphitization. The resulting electrocatalyst exhibited outstanding H2O2 production efficiency, achieving a high production rate of 1219μMh-1, outperforming commercially available CNT and rGO as carbon catalysts. Potassium plays a crucial role in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by regulating surface properties, enhancing charge transfer, and selectively promoting the two-electron pathway, leading to an H2O2 selectivity of 82%. These findings provide new insights into the catalytic role of naturally embedded potassium in biomass-derived carbon materials and introduce a scalable, sustainable strategy for cost-effective H2O2 production, enabling a green and efficient ORR catalyst design without additional chemical activators.