Nano-island-encapsulated cobalt single-atom catalysts for breaking activity-stability trade-off in Fenton-like reactions.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39747208.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-55622-y and PMC identifier 11697253.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been increasingly acknowledged for their performance in sustainable Fenton-like catalysis. However, SACs face a trade-off between activity and stability in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based systems. Herein, we design a nano-island encapsulated single cobalt atom (Co<sub>SA/Zn.O</sub>-ZnO) catalyst to enhance the activity and stability of PMS activation for contaminant degradation via an "island-sea" synergistic effect. In this configuration, small carrier-based ZnO nanoparticles (the "islands") are utilized to confine and stabilize Co single atoms. The expansive ZnO substrate (the "sea") upholds a neutral microenvironment within the reaction system. The Co<sub>SA/Zn.O</sub>-ZnO/PMS system exhibits a remarkable selectivity in exclusively generating sulfate radicals (SO<sub>4</sub><sup>•-</sup>), leading to a complete removal of various recalcitrant pollutants within a shorter period. Characterized by minimal leaching of active sites, robust catalytic performance, and low-toxicity decontamination, this system proves highly efficient in multiple treatment cycles and complex water matrices. The design effectively breaks the activity-stability trade-off typically associated with SACs.