Multiple selectivity-determining mechanisms of H2O2 formation in iron porphyrin-catalysed oxygen reduction

Abstract

Multiple H₂O₂-forming mechanisms are accessible in Fe(porphyrin)-catalysed oxygen reduction, a key reaction in both fuel cell technologies and oxygen-utilizing enzymes. Our kinetic analysis reveals that the porphyrin secondary structure dictates the pathway for H₂O₂ formation. This approach is generalizable to other electrocatalytic processes and provides insight into the selectivity-determining steps.