A solar cell with an ultra-reactive confined microinterface for high-flux water purification

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

  • Jun Zhang
  • Lin Lin
  • Ruiquan Yu
  • Wutong Chen
  • Xiaoyan Li

Related Research Unit(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Article number101084
Journal / PublicationChem Catalysis
Volume4
Issue number9
Online published29 Aug 2024
Publication statusPublished - 19 Sept 2024

Abstract

Advanced oxidation processes represent effective approaches toward water purification, but they are often energy and chemical intensive. Here, we show a solar cell with a highly reactive microinterface for high-flux wastewater treatment with requirements for only water, oxygen, and sunlight. Experiments demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide is produced in a porous cathode via two-electron oxygen reduction and then flows to a porous photoanode surface, where it is instantly activated to hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) light and integrated with indigenous center dot OH generated via one-electron water oxidation. Accordingly, a microscale region (similar to 150 mu m for thickness) with high-density center dot OH (similar to 2.5 mM) is successfully constructed but remains spatially constrained on the photoanode surface. Refractory pollutants (such as norfloxacin) pass through this microinterface successively and are degraded rapidly (>99% similar to 0.6-s retention time) due to violent collision between center dot OH and targets, even after 360 h of long-term operation. Our findings highlight an innovative catalytic platform design scheme for efficient water purification.

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Citation Format(s)

A solar cell with an ultra-reactive confined microinterface for high-flux water purification. / Zhang, Jun; Qu, Songying; Lin, Lin et al.
In: Chem Catalysis, Vol. 4, No. 9, 101084, 19.09.2024.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review