Encapsulating stable perovskite catalysts in hollow nanoreactors for enhanced pollutants degradation

Xiaxi Yao; Xuhui Su; Xuhong Wang; Xiuli Hu; Xuekun Hong

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.031

Encapsulating stable perovskite catalysts in hollow nanoreactors for enhanced pollutants degradation

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2024 May 8:669:657-666. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.031. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xiaxi Yao¹, Xuhui Su², Xuhong Wang², Xiuli Hu³, Xuekun Hong⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu 215500, PR China; Changshu Research Institute, East China University of Science and Technology, Changshu 215500, PR China. Electronic address: xiaxiyao@cslg.edu.cn.
² School of Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu 215500, PR China.
³ School of Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu 215500, PR China. Electronic address: mnhuxiuli@cslg.edu.cn.
⁴ School of Electronic Information Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu 215500, PR China. Electronic address: xkhong@cslg.edu.cn.

PMID: 38733877
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.031

Abstract

Creating a microenvironment for enhanced peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation is vital in advanced oxidation processes. The objective of this study was to fabricate nanoshells composed of titanium dioxide embedded with cobalt titanate nanoparticles of perovskite to act as nanoreactors for effectively initiating PMS and degrading contaminants. The unique porous structure and confined space of the nanoreactor facilitated reactant absorption and mass transfer to the active sites, resulting in exceptional catalytic performance for pollutant elimination. Experimental findings revealed close to 100% decomposition efficiency of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) within an hour utilizing the nanoreactors over a wide pH range. The TiO₂/CoTiO₃ hollow nanoshells catalysts also displayed adaptability in disintegrating organic dyes and antibiotics. The radicals SO₄^•-, ^•OH, and non-radicals ¹O₂ were determined to be accountable for eliminating pollutants, as supported by trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra. The catalyst was confirmed as an electron donor and PMS as an electron acceptor through electrochemical tests and density functional theory calculations. This study underscores the potential of incorporating stable perovskite catalysts in hollow nanoreactors to enhance wastewater treatment.

Keywords: Degradation; Electron transfer; Hollow nanoreactor; PMS activation; TiO(2)/CoTiO(3).