FeIII-driven self-cycled Fenton via contact-electro-catalysis for water purification

Abstract While self-cycled Fenton (SC-Fenton) systems represent an innovative advancement in water purification technologies, their practical implementation remains constrained by inefficient in situ H2O2 generation. To address this limitation, we developed a mechano-driven contact-electro-catalysis...

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Main Authors: Dongmei Ma, Jin Zhang, Wei Li, Jinxing Ma, Kuanchang He, Kui Yang, Jianghu Cui, Qian Liu, Sihao Lv, Min Zhang, Faliang Cheng, Defeng Xing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Clean Water
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-025-00476-0
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author Dongmei Ma
Jin Zhang
Wei Li
Jinxing Ma
Kuanchang He
Kui Yang
Jianghu Cui
Qian Liu
Sihao Lv
Min Zhang
Faliang Cheng
Defeng Xing
author_facet Dongmei Ma
Jin Zhang
Wei Li
Jinxing Ma
Kuanchang He
Kui Yang
Jianghu Cui
Qian Liu
Sihao Lv
Min Zhang
Faliang Cheng
Defeng Xing
author_sort Dongmei Ma
collection DOAJ
description Abstract While self-cycled Fenton (SC-Fenton) systems represent an innovative advancement in water purification technologies, their practical implementation remains constrained by inefficient in situ H2O2 generation. To address this limitation, we developed a mechano-driven contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) platform employing fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) as a triboelectric catalyst. Under ultrasound irradiation, this system achieves an exceptional H2O2 generation rate of 7.67 mmol·gcat –1·h–1, outperforming conventional piezo-catalysis systems. Mechanistic studies reveal that a built interfacial electric field generated on the FEP surface effectively reduces the free energy for the indirect 2e– water oxidation pathway. This unique characteristic promotes the generation of interfacial hydroxyl radical (*OH) and enhances its subsequent recombination into H2O2. The strategic integration of FeIII as a catalytic initiator with the CEC system enables the establishment of SC-Fenton reaction (FeIII/FEP/CEC). Notably, the contact-electrification electrons accumulated on the FEP interface drive efficient FeIII/FeII redox cycling, achieving a remarkable degradation rate for sulfadiazine at 0.125 min–1. This enhanced catalytic performance stems from FeIII-mediated amplification of dissociative hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation. This study provides fundamental insights into the underlying mechanisms of CEC-mediated FeIII-initiated SC-Fenton reaction, offering new possibilities for sustainable water purification processes.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2059-7037
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Clean Water
spelling doaj-art-26b60baaecdf444b926eb3fb481431782025-08-20T03:48:15ZengNature Portfolionpj Clean Water2059-70372025-05-01811910.1038/s41545-025-00476-0FeIII-driven self-cycled Fenton via contact-electro-catalysis for water purificationDongmei Ma0Jin Zhang1Wei Li2Jinxing Ma3Kuanchang He4Kui Yang5Jianghu Cui6Qian Liu7Sihao Lv8Min Zhang9Faliang Cheng10Defeng Xing11Research Center for Eco-environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of TechnologyResearch Center for Eco-environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of TechnologyResearch Center for Eco-environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of TechnologySchool of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of TechnologySchool of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of TechnologySchool of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of TechnologyResearch Center for Eco-environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of TechnologyResearch Center for Eco-environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of TechnologyResearch Center for Eco-environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of TechnologyGuangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of TechnologyGuangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of TechnologyState Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of TechnologyAbstract While self-cycled Fenton (SC-Fenton) systems represent an innovative advancement in water purification technologies, their practical implementation remains constrained by inefficient in situ H2O2 generation. To address this limitation, we developed a mechano-driven contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) platform employing fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) as a triboelectric catalyst. Under ultrasound irradiation, this system achieves an exceptional H2O2 generation rate of 7.67 mmol·gcat –1·h–1, outperforming conventional piezo-catalysis systems. Mechanistic studies reveal that a built interfacial electric field generated on the FEP surface effectively reduces the free energy for the indirect 2e– water oxidation pathway. This unique characteristic promotes the generation of interfacial hydroxyl radical (*OH) and enhances its subsequent recombination into H2O2. The strategic integration of FeIII as a catalytic initiator with the CEC system enables the establishment of SC-Fenton reaction (FeIII/FEP/CEC). Notably, the contact-electrification electrons accumulated on the FEP interface drive efficient FeIII/FeII redox cycling, achieving a remarkable degradation rate for sulfadiazine at 0.125 min–1. This enhanced catalytic performance stems from FeIII-mediated amplification of dissociative hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation. This study provides fundamental insights into the underlying mechanisms of CEC-mediated FeIII-initiated SC-Fenton reaction, offering new possibilities for sustainable water purification processes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-025-00476-0
spellingShingle Dongmei Ma
Jin Zhang
Wei Li
Jinxing Ma
Kuanchang He
Kui Yang
Jianghu Cui
Qian Liu
Sihao Lv
Min Zhang
Faliang Cheng
Defeng Xing
FeIII-driven self-cycled Fenton via contact-electro-catalysis for water purification
npj Clean Water
title FeIII-driven self-cycled Fenton via contact-electro-catalysis for water purification
title_full FeIII-driven self-cycled Fenton via contact-electro-catalysis for water purification
title_fullStr FeIII-driven self-cycled Fenton via contact-electro-catalysis for water purification
title_full_unstemmed FeIII-driven self-cycled Fenton via contact-electro-catalysis for water purification
title_short FeIII-driven self-cycled Fenton via contact-electro-catalysis for water purification
title_sort feiii driven self cycled fenton via contact electro catalysis for water purification
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-025-00476-0
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