Nanofiber-Enabled Photocatalysis-Assisted Contact-Electro-Catalysis for H₂O₂-Mediated Wastewater Engineering

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants in wastewater pose severe threats to ecosystems and human health. Contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) has emerged as a promising strategy for pollutant degradation, yet powdered catalysts suffer from limited reactive sites, and generated reactive oxygen species readily form inert H₂O₂, limiting redox efficiency. Herein, a flexible TiO₂/S_v-ZnIn₂S₄/PVDF-HFP nanofibrous membrane is designed to realize a photocatalysis-assisted contact-electro-catalysis (P-CEC) system for efficient wastewater purification. The resulting system enables the continuous in situ decomposition of accumulated H₂O₂ into reactive oxygen species under light irradiation, while establishing a synergistic multi-field coupling that sustains high redox species flux without the need for external oxidants. In the P-CEC system, the degradation rate of the pollutant reaches 3 times that of the conventional CEC system and 44 times that of the catalyst membrane alone. This work provides a viable strategy for overcoming reactive oxygen species self-quenching and demonstrates a multi-field coupled platform for efficient, energy-sustainable environmental remediation.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Contact-electro-catalysis / H₂O₂ decomposition / Photocatalyst / Wastewater purification / Nanofibrous membrane

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(52403260)

Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST(YESS20240696)

Textile Vision Basic Research Program(J202410)

Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation(2308085QE147)

University Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Province(2023AH051006)

Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Clean Dyeing and Finishing Technology of Zhejiang Province(QJRZ2309)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China