Electronic structure regulation of Fe single atom coordinated nitrogen doping MoS catalyst enhances the Fenton-like reaction efficient for organic pollutant control.

An efficient cathode for a Fenton-like reaction based on hydrogen peroxide (HO) has significant implications for the potential application of the advanced oxidation process. However, the low HO selectivity and efficient activation remain challenging in wastewater treatment. In the present study, a single Fe atom doped, nitrogen-coordinated molybdenum disulfide (Fe/N/MoS) cathode that exhibited asymmetric wettability and self-absorption molecular oxygen was successfully prepared for pollutant degradation. The X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure of FeN in the Fe/N/MoS catalyst were determined. The electronic structure demonstrated favorable HO selectivity (75%) in a neutral solution and the cumulative hydroxyl radical concentration was 14 times higher than the pure carbon felt. After 10 consecutive reaction experiments, the removal ratio of paracetamol still reached 97%, and the catalytic performance did not decrease significantly. This work deeply understands the catalytic mechanism of Fenton-like reaction between single Fe atom and MoS double reaction sites, and proves that the regulation of the electronic structure of Fe single atom is an effective strategy to improve the activity of Fenton-like reaction.