Homologous Co3O4‖CoP nanowires grown on carbon cloth as a high-performance electrode pair for triclosan degradation and hydrogen evolution

As a widely used antimicrobial agent in toothpastes and body washes for decades, triclosan (TCS) is causing great harm to the environment through wastewater. Herein, we used a two-electrode system to remove TCS comprising Co3O4 nanowires/carbon cloth (Co3O4 NWs/CC) as anode and CoP nanowires/carbon cloth (CoP NWs/CC) as cathode. At a constant current density of 10 mA cm−2, the degradation efficiency for TCS is 95% in 60 min and it is transformed into important chemical raw materials, including phenol, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, and 2-phenoxyphenol. Subsequently, hydrogen is generated on the CoP NWs/CC cathode with Faradaic efficiency of nearly 100%. The synergetic effect of the superhydrophilic surfaces of the Co3O4 NWs/CC anode and the CoP NWs/CC cathode as well as the superaerophobicity of the cathode assures full contact of the electrolyte solution and the active materials and high-efficiency generation of H2 bubbles.