In Situ Generation of HO over MoO Decorated on CuO@CuO Core-Shell Particle Nanoarchitectonics for Boosting Photocatalytic Oxidative Desulfurization.

Photocatalytic oxidation desulfurization (PODS) has emerged as a promising, ecofriendly alternative to traditional, energy-intensive fuel desulfurization methods. Nevertheless, its progress is still hindered due to the slow sulfide oxidation kinetics in the current catalytic systems. Herein, we present a MoO decorated on a CuO@CuO core-shell catalyst, which enables a new, efficient PODS pathway by generation of hydrogen peroxide (HO) with saturated moist air as the oxidant source. The photocatalyst delivers remarkable specific activity in oxidizing dibenzothiophene (DBT), achieving a superior rate of 7.8 mmol g h, while maintaining a consistent performance across consecutive reuses. Experimental investigations reveal that HO is produced through the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and both HO and the hydroxyl radicals (OH) generated from it act as the primary reactive species responsible for sulfide oxidation. Importantly, our catalyst accomplishes complete PODS of real diesel fuel, underscoring an appealing industrial prospect for our photocatalyst.