Coupled Surface-Confinement Effect and Pore Engineering in a Single-Fe-Atom Catalyst for Ultrafast Fenton-like Reaction with High-Valent Iron-Oxo Complex Oxidation

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05509
• Publication Date: 2023-10-06T16:45:26Z
• Authors: Bingkun Huang; Zelin Wu; Xinhao Wang; Xinyu Song; Hongyu Zhou; Heng Zhang; Peng Zhou; Wen Liu; Zhaokun Xiong; Bo Lai
• Keywords: Degradation

The nanoconfinement effect in Fenton-like reactions shows great potential environmental remediation, but the construction of confinement structure and corresponding mechanism are rarely elucidated systematically. Herein, we proposed a novel peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation system employing single Fe atom supported on mesoporous N-doped carbon (FeSA-MNC, specific surface area = 1520.9 m2/g), which could accelerate catalytic oxidation process via surface-confinement effect. degradation activity confined was remarkably increased by 34.6 times compared to its analogue unconfined system. generation almost 100% high-valent iron-oxo species identified 18O isotope-labeled experiments, quenching tests, probe methods. density functional theory illustrated that narrows gap between d-band center Fermi level atom, strengthens charge transfer rate at reaction interface reduces free energy barrier for PMS activation. exhibited excellent pollutant efficiency, robust resistance coexisting matter, adaptation wide pH range (3.0-11.0) various temperature environments (5-40 °C). Finally, FeSA-MNC/PMS achieve sulfamethoxazole removal without significant performance decline after 10,000-bed volumes. This work provides insights into chemistry guides design superior systems remediation.