Atomic-Layered Cu 5 Nanoclusters on FeS 2 with Dual Catalytic Sites for Efficient and Selective H 2 O 2 Activation.

Regulating the distribution of reactive oxygen species generated from H ₂ O ₂ activation is the prerequisite to ensuring the efficient and safe use of H ₂ O ₂ in the chemistry and life science fields. Herein, we demonstrate that constructing a dual Cu-Fe site through the self-assembly of single-atomic-layered Cu ₅ nanoclusters onto a FeS ₂ surface achieves selective H ₂ O ₂ activation with high efficiency. Unlike its unitary Cu or Fe counterpart, the dual Cu-Fe sites residing at the perimeter zone of the Cu ₅ /FeS ₂ interface facilitate H ₂ O ₂ adsorption and barrierless decomposition into ⋅OH via forming a bridging Cu-O-O-Fe complex. The robust in situ formation of ⋅OH governed by this atomic-layered catalyst enables the effective oxidation of several refractory toxic pollutants across a broad pH range, including alachlor, sulfadimidine, p-nitrobenzoic acid, p-chlorophenol, p-chloronitrobenzene. This work highlights the concept of building a dual catalytic site in manipulating selective H ₂ O ₂ activation on the surface molecular level towards efficient environmental control and beyond.
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