The Unique Fe3Mo3N Structure Bestowed Efficient Fenton-Like Performance of the Iron-Based Catalysts: The Double Enhancement of Radicals and Nonradicals

Abstract

Iron-based catalysts are widely used in Fenton-like water pollution control technology due to their high efficiency, but their practical applications are limited by complex preparation conditions and strong blockage of Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ cycle during the reaction. Here, a new iron–molybdenum bimetallic carbon-based catalyst is designed and synthesized using cellulose hydrogel for adsorption of Fe and Mo bimetals as a template, and the effective iron cycle in water treatment is realized. The integrated materials (Fe_2.5Mo@CNs) with “catalytic/cocatalytic” performance have higher Fenton-like activation properties and universality than the equivalent quantity iron–carbon-based composite catalysts (Fe@CNs). Through the different characterization methods, experimental verifications and theoretical calculations show that the unique Fe₃Mo₃N structure promotes the adsorption of persulfate and reduces the energy barrier of the reaction, further completing the double enhancement of radicals (such as SO₄·⁻) and nonradicals (¹O₂ and electron transport process). The integrated “catalytic/cocatalytic” combined material is expected to provide a new promotion strategy for Fenton-like water pollution control.