Department of Physics & Nanotechnology, SRM University of Science and Technology, Tankular, Chennai, 603203, Tamilnadu, India.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Environ Res. 2024 Nov 1;260:119676. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119676. Epub 2024 Jul 23.
The photoelectrocatalytic advanced oxidation process (PEAOP) necessitates high-performing and stable photoanodes for the effective oxidation of complex pollutants in industrial wastewater. This study presents the construction of 2D WO/MXene heteronanostructures for the development of efficient and stable photoanode. The WO/MXene heterostructure features well-ordered WO photoactive sites anchored on micron-sized MXene sheets, providing an increased visible light active catalytic surface area and enhanced electrocatalytic activities for pollutant oxidation. Phenol, a highly toxic compound, was completely oxidized at an applied potential of 0.8 V vs. RHE under visible light irradiation. Systematic optimization of operational conditions for the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of phenol was conducted. The phenol oxidation mechanism was elucidated via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis and the identification of intermediate compounds. Additionally, a mixed model of phenol and arsenic (III) in polluted water demonstrated the capability of WO/MXene photoanode for the simultaneous oxidation of both organic and inorganic pollutants, achieving complete conversion of phenol and As(III) to non-toxic As(V). The WO/MXene photoanode facilitated water oxidation, generating a substantial amount of O and OH oxidative species, which are crucial for the concurrent oxidation of phenol and arsenic. Recyclability tests demonstrated a 99% retention of performance, confirming the WO/MXene photoanode's suitability for long-term operation in PEAOPs. The findings suggest that integrating WO/MXene photoanodes into water purification systems can enhance economic feasibility, reduce energy consumption, and improve efficiency. This PEAOP offers a viable solution to the critical issue of heavy metal and organic chemical pollution in various water bodies, given its scalability and ability to preserve ecosystems while conserving clean water resources.
光催化高级氧化工艺（PEAOP）需要高性能和稳定的光阳极，以有效氧化工业废水中的复杂污染物。本研究提出了构建二维 WO/MXene 异质纳米结构，以开发高效稳定的光阳极。WO/MXene 异质结构的特点是有序的 WO 光活性位锚定在微米级 MXene 片上，提供了更大的可见光活性催化表面积，并增强了电催化活性，有利于污染物氧化。在可见光照射下，施加 0.8 V 相对于 RHE 的电位即可完全氧化苯酚，这是一种高毒性化合物。对苯酚的光电催化氧化的操作条件进行了系统优化。通过高效液相色谱（HPLC）分析和中间化合物的鉴定，阐明了苯酚氧化的机理。此外，在受污染的水中，苯酚和砷（III）的混合模型表明，WO/MXene 光阳极具有同时氧化有机和无机污染物的能力，可将苯酚和 As(III)完全转化为无毒的 As(V)。WO/MXene 光阳极促进水氧化，生成大量 O 和 OH 氧化物种，这对于苯酚和砷的同时氧化至关重要。循环测试表明，性能保留了 99%，这证实了 WO/MXene 光阳极在 PEAOP 中进行长期运行的适用性。研究结果表明，将 WO/MXene 光阳极集成到水净化系统中可以提高经济效益，降低能耗，并提高效率。鉴于其可扩展性和保护生态系统的同时保护清洁水资源的能力，该 PEAOP 为解决各种水体中重金属和有机化学污染这一关键问题提供了可行的解决方案。
