Electronic Metal‐Support Interactions Boost *OOH Intermediate Generation in Cu/In₂Se₃ for Electrochemical H₂O₂ Production

Abstract

Two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e‐ ORR) is a promising method for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, high energy barriers for the generation of key *OOH intermediates hinder the process of 2e‐ ORR. Herein, we prepared a copper‐supported indium selenide catalyst (Cu/In2Se3) to enhance the selectivity and yield of 2e‐ ORR by employing an electronic metal–support interactions (EMSIs) strategy. EMSIs‐induced charge rearrangement between metallic Cu and In2Se3 is conducive to *OOH intermediate generation, promoting H2O2 production. Theoretical investigations reveal that the inclusion of Cu significantly lowers the energy barrier of the 2e‐ ORR intermediate and impedes the 4e‐ ORR pathway, thus favoring the formation of H2O2. The concentration of H2O2 produced by Cu/In2Se3 is ~2 times than In2Se3, and Cu/In2Se3 shows promising applications in antibiotic degradation. This research presents a valuable approach for the future utilization of EMSIs in 2e‐ ORR.