Work

Polyelectrolyte Multilayer: Caged PTFE Particles in Water for Continuous, Sonochemical H 2 O 2 Synthesis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT The use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles to promote sonochemical H 2 O 2 production has attracted growing interest, as cavitation bubbles formed at or near their perfluorinated surfaces provide favorable interfacial environments for generating reactive radicals from water and oxygen. However, their practical application is limited by poor dispersibility in aqueous media. Here, we report a yolk–shell particle (YSP) design, where PTFE cores are encapsulated within polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) shells assembled via layer‐by‐layer deposition of polyallylamine hydrochloride and poly(styrene sulfonate). This structure enables stable dispersion in water while maintaining exposure of hydrophobic PTFE surfaces through internal void spaces, thereby maximizing the ultrasound‐driven interfacial H 2 O 2 generation efficiency of PTFE surfaces. As a result, continuous sonochemical conversion of H 2 O and O 2 to H 2 O 2 is achieved, with a maximum concentration of 2.5 mmol·L −1 over 12 h and a production rate of 3.34 mmol·g cat −1 ·h −1 . Moreover, the YSP platform allows systematic evaluation of particle size and surface chemistry effects. This strategy not only enables the reuse of polymer waste as functional promoters but also facilitates the development of accessible, cost‐effective sonochemical H 2 O 2 generators for applications in water purification, food safety, and healthcare.

Source: Advanced Science

DOI: 10.1002/advs.77281