Condensing water vapor to droplets generates hydrogen peroxide

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 117; no. 49; pp. 30934 - 30941
• Main Authors: Lee, Jae Kyoo, Han, Hyun Soo, Chaikasetsin, Settasit, Marron, Daniel P., Waymouth, Robert M., Prinz, Fritz B., Zare, Richard N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 08.12.2020
• Series: From the Cover
• Subjects: Atomizing; Catalysts; Condensates; Disinfection; Droplets; Electric fields; Environmental conditions; Glass substrates; Green chemistry; Hydrogen peroxide; Interfaces; Low temperature; Nucleation; Oxidation; Physical Sciences; Relative humidity; Silicon substrates; Substrates; Water drops; Water vapor; microdroplet; green Chemistry; vapor condensation; water–air interface; hydrogen peroxide
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020158117

It was previously shown [J. K. Lee et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 116, 19294–19298 (2019)] that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is spontaneously produced in micrometer-sized water droplets (microdroplets), which are generated by atomizing bulk water using nebulization without the application of an external electric field. Here we report that H₂O₂ is spontaneously produced in water microdroplets formed by dropwise condensation of water vapor on low-temperature substrates. Because peroxide formation is induced by a strong electric field formed at the water–air interface of microdroplets, no catalysts or external electrical bias, as well as precursor chemicals, are necessary. Time-course observations of the H₂O₂ production in condensate microdroplets showed that H₂O₂ was generated from microdroplets with sizes typically less than ∼10 μm. The spontaneous production of H₂O₂ was commonly observed on various different substrates, including silicon, plastic, glass, and metal. Studies with substrates with different surface conditions showed that the nucleation and the growth processes of condensate water microdroplets govern H₂O₂ generation. We also found that the H₂O₂ production yield strongly depends on environmental conditions, including relative humidity and substrate temperature. These results show that the production of H₂O₂ occurs in water microdroplets formed by not only atomizing bulk water but also condensing water vapor, suggesting that spontaneous water oxidation to form H₂O₂ from water microdroplets is a general phenomenon. These findings provide innovative opportunities for green chemistry at heterogeneous interfaces, self-cleaning of surfaces, and safe and effective disinfection. They also may have important implications for prebiotic chemistry.