Nanoneedle-assembled copper/cobalt sulfides on nickel foam as an enhanced 3D hierarchical catalyst to activate monopersulfate for rhodamine B degradation

Chen, H.-H., Park, Y.-K., Kwon, E., Tsang, Y. F., Thanh, B. X., Khiem, T. C., You, S. , Hu, C. and Lin, K.-Y. A. (2022) Nanoneedle-assembled copper/cobalt sulfides on nickel foam as an enhanced 3D hierarchical catalyst to activate monopersulfate for rhodamine B degradation. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 613, pp. 168-181. (doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.11.186)

Abstract

While metal oxides are conventionally proposed for activating monopersulfate (MPS) to degrade refractory contaminants, metal sulfides have recently gained increased attention for MPS activation because these sulfides exhibit more reactive redox characteristics to enhance the catalytic activation of MPS. The present study attempts to develop a novel material comprised of metal sulfides with 3D hierarchical nanostructures to activate MPS. Specifically, a 3D hierarchically structured catalyst was fabricated by growing CuCo-layered double hydroxide (LDH) on nickel foam (NF), followed by direct sulfurization, affording Cu/CoS@NF (CCSNF). CCSNF could exhibit a unique morphology of floral bunches comprised of nano-needles, residing on the NF surfaces. Compared with its precursor, CuCo-LDH@NF, oxide analogue, and CuCo2O4@NF, CCSNF possessed superior physical and chemical properties, including larger surface area and pore volume, higher current density, and lower charge transfer resistance. These features render CCSNF a much more effective catalyst than CuCo-LDH@NF and CuCo2O4@NF for activating MPS to degrade Rhodamine B (RB). In particular, RB degradation by CCSNF-activated MPS required an activation energy only 26.8 kJ/mol, which is much lower than the reported values. The activation mechanism and degradation pathway of RB degradation by CCSNF-activated MPS were investigated and validated through experimental evidences and density function theory calculations.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: You, Dr Siming
• Authors: Chen, H.-H., Park, Y.-K., Kwon, E., Tsang, Y. F., Thanh, B. X., Khiem, T. C., You, S., Hu, C., and Lin, K.-Y. A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0021-9797
• ISSN (Online): 1095-7103
• Published Online: 02 December 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 613: 168-181
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy