Sludge carbon promotes barium titanate piezoelectric property to activate persulfate degradation of enrofloxacin

BACKGROUNDPiezoelectric catalysis using perovskite‐type barium titanate (BaTiO3) has been applied to the decomposition of refractory organic pollutants through piezoelectric catalytic persulfate (PS). Nevertheless, challenges such as a limited specific surface area, poor electrical conductivity and a tendency towards agglomeration in BaTiO3 necessitate the exploration of novel methods to enhance its piezoelectric efficiency.RESULTSSludge carbon (SC) from sewage treatment and BaTiO3 was utilized to develop a novel piezoelectric catalytic material (BaTiO3/SC). The specific surface area of BaTiO3/SC reached 67.92 m2 g−1, which is nine times larger than that of BaTiO3 alone. The inclusion of SC in the composite enhanced the number of active sites and contributed to a higher degree of graphitization, improved electrical conductivity, and provided a more stable structure for BaTiO3/SC. This material was capable of harvesting mechanical vibration energy from ultrasound, thereby generating piezoelectric catalytic properties and activating PS to achieve a 93% decomposition ratio of enrofloxacin (ENR) in water within 80 min. The activation of PS by BaTiO3/SC piezocatalysis led to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as •OH and SO4−•. These ROS attack the quinolone ring of ENR, which is susceptible to cleavage, resulting in the decomposition of ENR into intermediates of lower toxicity.CONCLUSIONThe incorporation of SC has enhanced the piezoelectric performance of BaTiO3, rendering BaTiO3/SC a novel perovskite‐type piezoelectric catalytic material that improves piezoelectric efficiency. The BaTiO3/SC system, through its piezoelectric catalytic activation of PS, demonstrates potential for decomposition of refractory organic pollutants in water treatment. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).