We successfully synthesized a porous carbon material with abundant hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) dispersed on a carbon matrix (p-BN-C) as efficient electrocatalysts for two-electron oxygen reduction reaction ( 2e− ORR) to produce hydrogen peroxide ( H2O2). This catalyst was fabricated via ball-milling-assisted h-BN exfoliation and subsequent growth of carbon structure. In alkaline solutions, the h-BN/carbon heterostructure exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity for H2O2 generation measured by a rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE), with a remarkable selectivity of up to 90–97% in the potential range of 0.3–0.6 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), superior to most of the reported carbon-based electrocatalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations indicated that the B atoms at the h-BN heterostructure interface were crucial active sites. These results underscore the remarkable catalytic activity of heterostructure and provide a novel approach for tailoring carbon-based catalysts, enhancing the selectivity and activity in the production of H2O2 through heterostructure engineering.

Porous heterostructure of h-BNcarbon as an efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen peroxide generation
    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Results and discussion
        2.1 Morphological characterization
        2.2 Spectroscopic characterization
        2.3 Electrocatalytic performance toward H2O2 generation
        2.4 Catalytic sites determined by DFT simulation
    3 Conclusion
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Xiang Xu(Jiangsu Co‑Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China)
• Yuying Zhao(Key Lab of Biomass Energy and Material, Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Co‑Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry, 16 Suojin Wucun Road, Nanjing 210042, China)
• Qixin Yuan(Jiangsu Co‑Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China)
• Yuhan Wu(Jiangsu Co‑Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China)
• Jiawei He(Jiangsu Co‑Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China)
• Mengmeng Fan(Jiangsu Co‑Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing 210037, China, Key Lab of Biomass Energy and Material, Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Co‑Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry, 16 Suojin Wucun Road, Nanjing 210042, China) Corresponding author