Preparation of functionalized porous chitin carbon to enhance the HO production and Fe reduction properties of Electro-Fenton cathodes for efficient degradation of RhB.

The performance of Electro-Fenton (EF) cathode materials is primarily assessed by HO yield and Fe reduction efficiency. This study explores the impact of pore structure in chitin-based porous carbon on EF cathode effectiveness. We fabricated mesoporous carbon (CPC-700-2) and microporous carbon (ZPC-700-3) using template and activation methods, retaining nitrogen from the precursors. CPC-700-2, with mesopores (3-5 nm), enhanced O diffusion and oxygen reduction, producing up to 778 mg/L of HO in 90 min. ZPC-700-3, with a specific surface area of 1059.83 m/g, facilitated electron transport and ion diffusion, achieving a Fe/Fe conversion rate of 79.9%. EF systems employing CPC-700-2 or ZPC-700-3 as the cathode exhibited superior degradation performance, achieving 99% degradation of Rhodamine B, efficient degradation, and noticeable decolorization. This study provides a reference for the preparation of functionalized carbon cathode materials for efficient HO production and effective Fe reduction in EF systems.