Fe@Fe2O3 core-shell nanowires as an iron reagent.: 3.: Their combination with CNTs as an effective oxygen-fed gas diffusion electrode in a neutral electro-Fenton system

In this study, core-shell Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were combined with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and then used as an oxygen-fed gas diffusion electrode. The resulting Fe@Fe2O3/CNT composite electrode was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A novel electro-Fenton (E-Fenton) system was established with the resulting gas diffusion cathode, where hydrogen peroxide was electrogenerated by the reduction of O-2 adsorbed on the cathode and iron ions were produced by the slow leakage of Fe@Fe2O3 nanowires, simultaneously. The degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) in this E-Fenton system reached 91.5% in 120 min at neutral pH, indicating this system is very promising for wastewater treatment. Moreover, cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments were performed to probe the reactions on the Fe@Fe2O3/CNT electrode.