Selective activation of peroxymonosulfate govern by B-site metal in delafossite for efficient pollutants degradation: Pivotal role of d orbital electronic configuration

Radical and non-radical oxidation pathways have been universally validated in transition metals (TMs) oxides activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) processes. However, achieving high efficiency and selectivity of PMS activation remains challenging due to the ambiguous tuning mechanism of TMs sites on PMS activation in thermodynamic scope. Herein, we demonstrated that the exclusive PMS oxidation pathways were regulated by d orbital electronic configuration of B-sites in delafossites (CuBO2) for Orange I degradation (CoIII 3d6 for reactive oxygen species (ROSs) vs. CrIII 3d3 for electron transfer pathway). The d orbital electronic configuration was identified to affect the orbital overlap extent between 3d of B-sites and O 2p of PMS, which induced B-sites offering different types of hybrid orbital to coordinate with O 2p of PMS, thereby forming the high-spin complex (CuCoO2@PMS) or the low-spin complex (CuCrO2@PMS), on which basis PMS was selectively dissociated to form ROSs or achieve electron transfer pathway. As indicated by thermodynamic analysis, a general rule was proposed that B-sites of less than half-filled 3d orbital tended to act as electron shuttle, i.e., CrIII (3d3), MnIII (3d4), interacting with PMS to execute an electron transfer pathway for degrading Orange I, while B-sites of between half-filled and full-filled 3d orbital preferred to be electron donator, i.e., CoIII (3d6), FeIII (3d5), activating PMS to generate ROSs. These findings lay a foundation for the oriented design of TMs-based catalysts from the atomic level according to d orbital electronic configuration optimization, as so to facilitate the achievement of PMSAOPs with highly selective and efficient remediation of contaminants in water purification practice.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates that the oxidation pathways of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) can be selectively regulated by controlling the d orbital electronic configuration of B-sites in delafossite structures. The orbital overlap between the B-sites and PMS determines the formation of high-spin complexes or low-spin complexes, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) or electron transfer pathway for the degradation of Orange I. These findings lay a foundation for the design of transition metal-based catalysts with highly selective and efficient remediation of contaminants in water purification practice.