Tailoring single-atom FeN4 moieties as a robust heterogeneous catalyst for high-performance electro-Fenton treatment of organic pollutants

An iron single-atom catalyst, composed of robust FeN4 moieties anchored on a nitrogen-doped porous carbón matrix (Fe-SAC/NC), has been developed via a surfactant-coordinated metal-organic framework (MOF) approach for application in heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) process. The cohesive interaction...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Xia, Pan, Ye, Zhihong, Zhao, Lele, Xue, Qian, Lanzalaco, Sonia, He, Qiang, Qi, Xueqiang, Sirés Sadornil, Ignacio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/193037
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/193037
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Depuració de l'aigua
Oxidació electroquímica
Contaminants orgànics de l'aigua
Water purification
Electrolytic oxidation
Organic water pollutants
Descripción
Sumario:An iron single-atom catalyst, composed of robust FeN4 moieties anchored on a nitrogen-doped porous carbón matrix (Fe-SAC/NC), has been developed via a surfactant-coordinated metal-organic framework (MOF) approach for application in heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) process. The cohesive interaction between the surfactant and MOF precursor enabled the formation of abundant and stable FeN4 moieties. The Fe-SAC/NC-catalyzed HEF allowed the complete degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol with low iron leaching (1.2 mg L-1), being superior to nanoparticle catalyst synthesized without surfactant. The experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated the dominant role of single-atom FeN4 sites to activate the electrogenerated H2O2 yielding ¿OH. The dense FeN4 moieties allowed harnessing the modulated electronic structure of the SAC to facilitate the electron transfer, whereas the adjacent pyrrolic N enhanced the adsorption of target organic pollutants. Moreover, the excellent catalysis, recyclability and viability of the Fe-SAC/NC were verified by successfully treating several organic pollutants even in urban wastewater.