Could water, sunlight, and air be all that’s needed to make hydrogen peroxide?

CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE

FOR RELEASE: Dec. 2, 2025

Kaitlyn Serrao

607-882-1140

kms465@cornell.edu

Could water, sunlight, and air be all that’s needed to make hydrogen peroxide?

ITHACA, N.Y. - Cornell University scientists have discovered a potentially transformative approach to manufacturing one of the world’s most widely used chemicals – hydrogen peroxide – using nothing more than sunlight, water and air.

“Currently, hydrogen peroxide is made through the anthraquinone process, which relies on fossil fuels, produces chemical waste and requires transport of concentrated peroxide – all of which have safety and environmental concerns,” said Alireza Abbaspourrad, associate professor of Food Chemistry and Ingredient Technology, and corresponding author of the research.

Hydrogen peroxide is ubiquitous in both industrial and consumer settings: It bleaches paper, treats wastewater, disinfects wounds and household surfaces, and plays a key role in electronics manufacturing. Global production runs into the millions of tons each year. Yet today’s process depends almost entirely on a complex method involving hazardous intermediates and large-scale central chemical plants.

According to Amin Zadehnazari, first author and a postdoctoral researcher in Abbaspourrad’s lab, the new research introduces two engineered, light-responsive materials, dubbed ATP-COF-1 and ATP-COF-2, designed to absorb visible light, separate photogenerated charges and drive the conversion of water and oxygen into hydrogen peroxide.

“These materials work efficiently under visible light, are stable and reusable, and point toward a future where hydrogen peroxide could be made locally instead of in large chemical factories,” Zadehnazari said.

This means rather than shipping concentrated hydrogen peroxide from a few mega-factories, industries or even local treatment facilities could one day generate the molecule onsite using solar energy. That shift could reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, cut energy usage and improve safety–particularly in remote or resource-limited settings.

“The challenge,” Zadehnazari added, “is that while the existing anthraquinone process is toxic and not clean, it’s cheap. We’re now focusing on how to make this sustainable alternative affordable at scale.”

While the study is still at the laboratory scale, the researchers are now working to scale up the materials, optimize their performance and integrate the system into practical devices.

“It’s an exciting start,” Zadehnazari said. “This method could reshape how disinfectants and water-treatment agents are produced – making them cleaner, safer and more accessible.”

For additional information, read this Cornell Chronicle story.

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