UC Merced

Studying chemical processes at the air-water interface is always challenging. A recent report claimed that H₂O₂ was formed spontaneously on the surface of condensed water microdroplets. However, a newer report concluded that the detected H₂O₂ in the previous report could originate in part from the water vapor source that involved ultrasonic atomization of liquid water. Here, this phenomenon is reinvestigated regarding the influence of ultrasonic cavitation, surface modification of droplets, and solutes in the bulk liquid on H₂O₂ production. When the droplet surfaces were modified by surfactants, H₂O₂ production did not change, whereas adding gases or inorganic compounds to the bulk solution caused significant changes in H₂O₂ production. These results confirm that H₂O₂ formation originates from cavitation in bulk solutions. It is concluded that the air-water interface of water microdroplets itself does not generate H₂O₂.