Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Peroxide Production from Water on a WO /BiVO Photoanode and from O on an Au Cathode Without External Bias.

The photoelectrochemical production and degradation properties of hydrogen peroxide (H O ) were investigated on a WO /BiVO photoanode in an aqueous electrolyte of hydrogen carbonate (HCO ). High concentrations of HCO species rather than CO species inhibited the oxidative degradation of H O on the WO /BiVO photoanode, resulting in effective oxidative H O generation and accumulation from water (H O). Moreover, the Au cathode facilitated two-electron reduction of oxygen (O ), resulting in reductive H O production with high current efficiency.