Electrochemical H2O2 Production Modelling for an Electrochemical Bandage

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an environmentally friendly oxidizing agent used to treat wound infections. We have developed an electrochemical bandage (e-bandage), which generates H2O2 in situ and shown that it exhibites in vitro and in vivo efficacy. The electrochemical bandage comprises carbon fabric working and counter electrodes, as well as an Ag/AgCl quasi-reference electrode, separated by cotton fabric and the electrolyte is delivered by Xanthan gum with phosphate buffer saline. While the chemistry and electrochemistry of the e-bandage have been experimentally characterized, the system level description could aid in better designing these devices. Here, a model called electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production (EHPP) was used to evaluate factors influencing electrochemical generation of H2O2, including electrode potential, diffusion and reaction rates, temperature, and various geometries. EHPP model parameters estimated based on experimental results indicate that: (i) with diffusion limitations caused by changes in physical conditions (e.g., drying of hydrogel), the rate of H2O2 generation decreases, (ii) higher working electrode overpotentials increase H2O2 generation and higher counter electrode overpotentials do not affect H2O2 generation, (iii) increasing the distance between electrodes by adding more hydrogel reduces H2O2 generation, (iv) net H2O2 generation decreases ∼12% with temperature, and (v) H2O2 production is most effective in the initial 48 h of operation.