Constructing Co3O4 nanosheet arrays anode as durable and efficient electrocatalyst for simultaneous chlorine evolution and carbamazepine degradation in the marine environment

The electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction (CER) is an essential and valuable technology for converting Cl − to Cl 2 in industrial-scale applications. However, under the background of freshwater scarcity, seawater electrolysis for Cl 2 generation becoming highly demanded. Meanwhile, pollutant degradation in the ocean is still challenging, especially in coastal and offshore seawaters. Herein, we provide a facile approach for constructing a highly efficient system for simultaneous Cl 2 evolution and organic contaminant abatement utilizing Co 3 O 4 nanosheet arrays decorated carbon cloth (Co 3 O 4 /CC) anode in the marine environment. The fabricated Co 3 O 4 /CC electrode achieved a considerably low potential of 1.55 V to reach a current density ( j ) of 10 mA cm −2 and long-term stability of 12 h at 100 mA cm −2 in seawater (pH = 2). Meanwhile, the practical environmental remediation results attested that the Co 3 O 4 nanosheet arrays possess an outstanding Carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation efficiency of 100 % within 6 min accompanied with a k value of 0.358 min −1 in real seawater, demonstrating the integrity and reusability. The overall findings offer new insight into designing highly active CER catalysts with efficient pollutant degradation in the marine environment.