Ivanova Dobrina, Kolev Hristo, Mladenova Ralitsa, Stefanov Bozhidar I, Kaneva Nina
Laboratory of Nanoparticle Science and Technology, Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sofia, 1 James Bourchier Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Institute of Catalysis, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, "Acad. G. Bonchev" Str., Bldg. 11, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Molecules. 2025 May 22;30(11):2265. doi: 10.3390/molecules30112265.
In the natural environment, mechanical energy is widely available as a sustainable and green energy source. In this paper, we successfully convert mechanical energy on ZnO and ZnO/EuO tribocatalysts via a friction route. Electrons were transferred across the contact interface when the catalyst particles and the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-sealed magnetic bar rubbed against each other under magnetic stirring. At the same time, holes were left on the catalyst while the PTFE absorbed the electrons. Similar to photocatalysis, organic pollutants can be effectively oxidized by the holes in the valence band of sol-gel catalysts due to their strong oxidative ability. The tribocatalytic tests demonstrated that ZnO and ZnO/EuO could eliminate organic analgesics (paracetamol) under magnetic stirring in the dark. By controlling the quantity of rare earth elements (1, 2, and 3 mol%), stirring speed, and the number of magnetic rods, we could further enhance the tribocatalytic performance. In addition to developing a green tribocatalysis approach for the oxidative purification of organic pollutants, this work offers a potential route for converting environmental mechanical energy into chemical energy, which could be used in sustainable energy and environmental remediation.
在自然环境中，机械能作为一种可持续的绿色能源广泛存在。在本文中，我们通过摩擦途径成功地在氧化锌（ZnO）和氧化锌/氧化铕（ZnO/EuO）摩擦催化剂上实现了机械能的转换。当催化剂颗粒与聚四氟乙烯（PTFE）密封的磁棒在磁力搅拌下相互摩擦时，电子在接触界面间转移。与此同时，催化剂上留下空穴，而PTFE吸收电子。与光催化类似，由于溶胶 - 凝胶催化剂价带中的空穴具有很强的氧化能力，有机污染物可被其有效氧化。摩擦催化测试表明，ZnO和ZnO/EuO在黑暗中的磁力搅拌下能够去除有机镇痛药（对乙酰氨基酚）。通过控制稀土元素的含量（1、2和3摩尔%）、搅拌速度和磁棒数量，我们可以进一步提高摩擦催化性能。除了开发一种用于有机污染物氧化净化的绿色摩擦催化方法外，这项工作还为将环境机械能转化为化学能提供了一条潜在途径，可用于可持续能源和环境修复。
