Instrument-Free and Autonomous Generation of H2O2 from Mg-ZnO/Au Hybrids for Disinfection and Organic Pollutant Degradations

Abstract

We proposed a new hybrid system that autonomously generates H2O2 without any instrument or external energy source, such as light. Electrons formed during spontaneous degradation process of Mg were conveyed to ZnO/Au oxygen-reduction-reaction nanocatalysts, and these transferred electrons converted O-2 molecules in aqueous solution into H2O2. Autonomously released H2O2 from Mg-ZnO/Au hybrids effectively killed 97% of Escherichia coli cells within 1 h. Moreover, Mg-ZnO/Au nanohybrids could gradually degrade methylene blue over time with Fe2+. We believe our approach utilizing degradable metals and catalytic metal oxides in mesoporous-film form can be a promising method in the field of environment remediation.