Designing efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) requires precisely identifying the reaction mechanism. Reporting in Matter, Lin and co-workers showcase the role of edges by using molecular nanocarbon models. Time-resolved spectroscopy, combined with simulation studies and kinetic isotope experiments, indicates that the rate-determining step is the formation of the superoxide anion O₂^−∗ deriving from one-electron transfer to the end-on chemisorbed O₂.

中文翻译：

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揭示边缘在无金属纳米碳上电催化合成 H2O2 中的作用

设计用于合成过氧化氢 (H ₂ O ₂ ) 的高效无金属电催化剂需要精确识别反应机理。在Matter的报道中，Lin 和同事通过使用分子纳米碳模型展示了边缘的作用。时间分辨光谱结合模拟研究和动力学同位素实验表明，决定速率的步骤是超氧阴离子 O 2 -∗ 的形成，该超氧阴离子 O ₂ ^-∗源自单电子转移到末端化学吸附的 O ₂。