Confining Hollow CoSn(OH)6 Cubes Inside Polydopamine Nanotubes To Significantly Promote Fenton-like Catalysis for Water Treatment

Abstract

Tubular nanoreactors, which exhibit a distinctive void-confinement effect, have become intriguing for their prospective applications in catalysis. However, rationally constructing these structures remains a formidable challenge, particularly in realizing a significantly synergistic catalytic enhancement. In this study, we present a reliable template polymerization-guided synthetic strategy, creating hollow CoSn(OH)₆ cubes inside polydopamine (PDA) nanotubes (CoSn(OH)₆@PDA NTs). This sample functions as a potent peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator for toxic contaminant oxidation. Diverse reactive oxygen species produced within the nanotubes significantly enhance this efficiency. The exceptional catalytic property results from the rich active sites of CoSn(OH)₆ and the distinct nanotubular structure, which concentrates reactants and benefits the mass transfer process. This research opens possibilities for developing high-performance and robust catalysts with spatial confinement effects, advancing water treatment technology.