Unlocking efficient electrocatalytic removal of trace emerging contaminants via synchronized pollutant enrichment and electron delivery.

Abstract

Emerging contaminants (ECs) pose escalating global threats to water security and human health, driving urgent demands for advanced remediation; however, electrocatalytic elimination of trace ECs remains intrinsically constrained by dual limitations: diffusion of ultra-dilute pollutants and sluggish interfacial electron transfer. Here, we introduce an integrated strategy that synergistically regulates mass transport and electron transfer using a conductive molecularly imprinted polymer (c-MIP) electrode operated in a charging-discharging mode. The c-MIP selectively enriches trace ECs at the electrode surface, overcoming diffusion barriers. Critically, its capacitive properties enable temporal control of electron delivery, synchronizing the electron transfer rate with the intrinsic oxidation kinetics of ECs during the discharging phase. This synchronization achieves near-complete EC degradation with 90% lower energy consumption than conventional direct-current electrocatalysis, while maintaining 99% (95% Confidence Interval: 98.0% - 100.0%) efficiency over 1,000 cycles. Our work delivers an energy-efficient electrocatalytic platform with operational stability for advanced trace organic pollutant remediation.