Reveals that electron transfer regime mediated by electron shuttle rather than adjacent transfer in B-doped 3D porous carbon framework: Exploration of interactions and identification of the main active site

The determination of non-radical pathways and identification of the main active site in the persulfate (PS) activation by B-doped carbonaceous materials are still controversial. Therefore, sodium citrate was selected as the carbon source and self-template for synthesizing a B-doped carbonaceous materials to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) in this work. Multiple characterizations and experiments revealed that the electron transfer regime was responsible for the activation of PDS. On the one hand, the metastable surface complexes were generated due to the adsorption of PDS onto the catalyst surface via inner-sphere interaction. On the other hand, the interaction between BPA and the catalyst was verified as charge-assisted hydrogen bonding. In addition, BC 3 was identified as the main active site. Based on the detailed and in-depth exploration of the electron transfer regime during the PDS activation of B-doped carbonaceous materials, this work further elucidated interactions, and the vital role of BC 3 in PDS activation.