Work

Optimizing nitrogen doping in cobalt nitrogen carbon catalysts for enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The effects of nitrogen doping and electronic modifications on peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation still lack investigation. Herein, we investigate the impact of different nitrogen doping types on the PMS activation process. We develop CoNC catalysts (Co 3 O 4 -decorated nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts) with varying ratios of nitrogen doping types, including pyridinic, pyrrolic, and graphitic nitrogen. Both experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that, among all doping types, pyridinic nitrogen significantly promotes the growth of active sites and enhances the activation of PMS. CoNC achieves high degradation efficiencies of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mixture: 99.3% for styrene and 91.8% for toluene. Long-term stability tests confirm that CoNC maintains high performance over six reaction cycles. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the PMS adsorption sites on CoNC and outline its decomposition pathway. This study paves the way for the design of efficient catalysts through electronic structure regulation, advancing the potential for PMS-based air pollution control in complex environments.

Source: Cell Reports Physical Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102689

Authors: Huanran Miao, Huai Wang, Qikui Fan, Zhimao Yang, Chuncai Kong

Institution: Xi'an Jiaotong University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced oxidation water treatment

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,620

Funders: Xi'an Jiaotong University, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Xi’an Jiaotong University