DYNA JOURNAL ENGINEERING

Hydrogen peroxide is an essential chemical for the paper industry, wastewater treatment, semiconductor manufacturing, and disinfectants, and today it is produced almost entirely via the anthraquinone process, which is energy-intensive, fossil fuel–based, and generates hazardous waste. This model also requires transporting concentrated peroxide over long distances, which brings safety risks and a significant carbon footprint.?

The Cornell team has synthesized two new covalent organic frameworks, named ATP-COF-1 and ATP-COF-2, which absorb visible light and promote charge transfer between triphenylamine and tetrazine units to convert water and oxygen into hydrogen peroxide with high selectivity. In laboratory tests, ATP-COF-1 reached production rates of 14,000 micromoles per gram per hour with an apparent quantum yield above 23%, while ATP-COF-2 achieved slightly lower but comparable values.?

According to the researchers, these materials are stable, reusable, and operate under sunlight, enabling compact systems that could produce hydrogen peroxide directly where it is needed, such as water plants, hospitals, or remote locations. This approach fits the broader trend toward more distributed chemistry, reducing reliance on large centralized plants and increasing supply chain resilience.?

The main challenge now is economic: the anthraquinone process remains very cheap, even though it is toxic and unsustainable, so the team is working to scale up the new materials, enhance their efficiency, and design practical devices for real-world deployment. If costs can be reduced and the technology scaled, the authors foresee meaningful impact on decarbonizing the chemical industry and changing how oxidizing agents for disinfection and water treatment are produced.?