Efficient Fenton-like Process Induced by Fortified Electron-rich O Micro-center on Reduction State Cu (RSC)-doped CNO Polymer

The discharge of organic pollutants threatens the environment and health, and is also a waste of organic energy. Here, the reduction state Cu species (RSC)-doped carbon-nitrogen-oxygen polymer (RSC-CNOP) is synthesized from high-temperature polymerization of Cu-polyimide precursor, which is used as a Fenton-like catalyst and exhibits excellent performance for pollutant degradation, accompanied by the utilization of the electron energy of the pollutants. Experiments and theoretical calculations reveal the promotion mechanism. The formed Cu(RSC)-O-C(π) electron transfer bridges in RSC-CNOP induces the bidirectional electron transfers from RSC to O and from C(π) to O (RSC→O←π), forming the polarized reaction micro-areas (reinforced electron-rich O micro-centers and electron-poor C(π) micro-centers). The free electrons in electron-rich centers of RSC-CNOP are as many as ~8 times that of the pure CNOP sample from the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurement. Pollutants are oxidized by supplying electr...