Authors: Feng Chen, Xi‐Lin Wu, Chenyang Shi, Hongjun Lin, Jianrong Chen, Yanpeng Shi, Shaobin Wang, Xiaoguang Duan
Published: 2021-01-15
Source: Full article
AbstractHeterogeneous Fenton‐like reactions (HFLR) are promising alternative strategies to address the inherent limitations of the classic Fenton systems. Herein, a facile and scale‐up approach for the synthesis of transition metal single‐atom sites (SA‐TM, TM = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu) coordinated onto pyrrolic N‐rich g‐C3N4 (PN‐g‐C3N4) scaffold is developed. The regulated pyrrolic N‐rich SA‐TM catalytic sites exhibit excellent performances for HFLR. As a model of SA‐TM/PN‐g‐C3N4, SA‐Cr/PN‐g‐C3N4 is efficient for the catalytic oxidation of bisphenol A via HFLR under visible light with outstanding cyclic stability and wide effective pH range (3.0–11.0). The synergy of photocatalysis and single‐atom catalysis leads to accelerated production and separation of charge carriers as well as the cycling of Cr3+/Cr2+ couple, consequently boosting the performance in HFLR. Theoretical calculations indicate that the Cr(II)‐N4 sites with the metalloporphyrin‐like structure are more reactive than the doped Cr(II) sites in the g‐C3N4 matrix, which act as the peroxidase‐mimicking nanozyme for efficient and homolytic cleavage of peroxide OO in H2O2. This study expands the family of the iron‐free Fenton‐like systems and provides new strategies to the rational design and precise regulation of on‐demand multifunctional single‐atom catalysts for advanced water remediation.