Electrolytic Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide Directly from Water and Application Thereof

Abstract

Provided is an electrochemical cell for generating hydrogen peroxide (H 2 0 2 ) directly from water, and an application thereof. The electrochemical cell includes: water-soluble electrolyte; an electrode structure A, in which hydrogen peroxide is generated by oxidizing water containing city water (CW) or electrolytes when voltage of time dependant polarity is applied; and an electrode structure B, in which hydrogen peroxide is generated by reducing water of the water-soluble electrolyte when the voltage of time dependant polarity is applied, wherein the polarity reversal of the voltage V e is performed periodically or non-periodically according to the time between positive (+) voltage and negative (−) voltage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical cell for generating hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), comprising:
 water-soluble electrolyte;   an electrode structure A, which contacts with the water-soluble electrolyte and in which hydrogen peroxide is generated by oxidizing water containing city water (CW) or electrolytes when voltage of time dependant polarity is applied; and   an electrode structure B, which contacts with the water-soluble electrolyte but is spatially separated from the electrode structure A, and in which hydrogen is generated by reducing water of the water-soluble electrolyte when the voltage of time dependant polarity is applied,   wherein the voltage of time dependant polarity is a voltage V e  (V e =V A −V B ), which is a potential difference of electrode structures A and B, the polarity reversal of the voltage V e  is performed periodically or non-periodically according to the time in sequence of positive (+) voltage, negative (−) voltage, positive (+) voltage, and negative (−) voltage.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the negative voltage is in an absolute value smaller than the positive voltage and a time average of the voltage V e  is positive. 
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode structure A includes porous conducting material which is electrochemically stable in the water-soluble electrolyte and hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode structure B includes porous conducting material which is electrochemically stable in the water-soluble electrolyte. 
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a separator membrane or an ion-exchange membrane which is located between the electrode structures A and B and blocks electrons while conducting ions.   
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode structure A includes at least one catalyst selected from a group consisting of O, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Ca, Sr, Ba and carbon in their elemental or compound forms. 
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode structure B includes at least one catalyst selected from a group consisting of H, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta and carbon in their elemental or compound forms. 
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble electrolyte includes at least one catalyst selected from a group consisting of alkali metal, alkali earth metal and rare earths. 
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage of the time dependant polarity has a polarity switching frequency between 10 −6  to 10 +8  Hz and amplitude of −200 volt to +300 volt. 
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage of the time dependant polarity is applied using a power source outside the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus including an electrochemical cell for generating hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is a pasteurization device, a sanitary device, a sterilization device or an oxygen supply device through decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         13 . A method for generating hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) from an aqueous solution by applying voltage of time dependant polarity between electrode structures A and B inside an electrochemical cell for generating hydrogen peroxide according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein hydrogen peroxide is generated with or without external oxygen or air inflow inside the electrochemical cell.