Efficient generation of 1O2 by activating peroxymonosulfate on graphitic carbon nanoribbons for water remediation

Few-layer graphitic carbon nanoribbons (GCN) with rich defective sites were prepared by pyrolysis at 800 oC in N2 of in situ-chelated Fe-polyaniline complexes synthesized via one-pot homogeneous Fenton-like oxidative polymerization of an acidic aniline solution. A minimal amount of iron (0.47 wt%) made a pivotal role in the nanoribbon growth and graphitization of GCN, and deposited highly dispersed iron species on GCN without post-synthesis acid leaching, which greatly simplified the synthesis procedure of GCN with improved yield. GCN exhibited high activity and stability for catalytic degradation of organic pollutants with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) mainly via non-radical pathways. The influences of various operating parameters on the catalytic performance of GCN were investigated. Scavenging tests, spin-trapping electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, electrochemical analyses, and theoretical calculations unveiled that 1O2 was the main reactive oxygen species generated from synergistic activation of PMS on GCN while GCN-mediated electron transfer made a minor contribution to organic degradation.