All Electrochemical Synthesis of Performic Acid Starting from CO2, O2, and H2O

Driven by anthropogenic climate change, innovative approaches to defossilize the chemical industry are required. Herein, the first all-electrochemical feasibility study for the complete electrosynthesis of the strong oxidizer and effective disinfectant performic acid is presented. Its synthesis is achieved solely from CO₂, O₂, and H₂O in a two-step process. Initially, CO₂ is electrochemically reduced to formate employing Bi₂O₃-based gas diffusion electrodes in a phosphate-buffered electrolyte. Thereby, high formate concentration (500.7 ± 0.6 mmol L⁻¹) and high Faradaic efficiency (86.3 ± 0.3%) are achieved at technically relevant current density (150 mA cm⁻²). Subsequently, the formate acts as (storable) feed electrolyte for the second electrolysis step. Employing carbon-based gas diffusion electrodes, O₂ is reduced to H₂O₂ and performic acid is directly formed in situ. As before, high H2O2 concentration (1.27 ± 0.06 mol L⁻¹) and high Faradaic efficiency (85.3 ± 5.4%) are achieved. Furthermore, performic acid concentration suitable for disinfection is obtained (82 ± 11 mmol L−1). In summary, this innovative feasibility study highlights the potential of combining electrochemical CO₂ reduction with H₂O₂ electrosynthesis, which could provide sustainable access to performic acid in the future.