Boosting contact electro-catalysis efficiency via nano-confinement effect in organic wastewater degradation

Contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) technology has emerged as a highly efficient and cost-effective technology for water contaminant degradation, which relies on the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) induced by dielectric catalytic particles. However, the necessity of using hydrophobic particulate catalysts causes agglomeration issues, hindering the CEC efficiency due to insufficient utilization of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, we synthesized a nanopore-rich and highly dispersed fluorinated catalyst, which showcased a remarkable increase in the kinetic rate of CEC-induced organic pollutants degradation by nearly 1000 %. This exceptional performance is primarily attributed to the improved water dispersibility of fluorinated catalysts, which more efficiently activate the catalytic sites without agglomeration hindrance. Meantime, the nanopores facilitate the rapid accumulation and nano-confinement of pollutants within its porous structure, which significantly reduces the mass transfer distance for ROS. This new catalyst design concept, along with the revealed underlying mechanisms, provides key theoretical guidance for the industrial application of CEC technology in the future.