Overcoming the Catalytic Activity–Stability Trade-Off by an Electrified Chainmail Membrane Composed of Copper Nanowires Encapsulated by Reduced Graphene Oxide

Overcoming the catalytic activity–stability trade-off remains a critical challenge for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Here, we fabricate an electrified chainmail membrane, composed of copper nanowires encapsulated by reduced graphene oxide (CuNW@rGO), exhibiting both high catalytic activity and long-term stability. The electrified CuNW@rGO membrane/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system efficiently degrades various water contaminants, including dyes, pharmaceuticals, and phenolics (73–98%). Meanwhile, this system also maintains stable performance over 50 h, with ∼100% PMS utilization efficiency and <10% performance degradation even under realistic treatment environment conditions. The exceptional performance of the CuNW@rGO membrane is attributed to the physical protection provided by the rGO shell and the promotion of copper valence redox cycling through the use of an applied electric field. High-valent copper species (Cu(III)) and electron transfer processes (ETP) dominate pollutant degradation (66.28%), while radical reactive species play a minor role. Oxygen-containing functional groups on the rGO shell serve as electronic transport pathways and reaction binding sites, facilitating charge permeation from the Cu core through the rGO shell to PMS. This work provides valuable theoretical insights into addressing the catalytic activity–stability trade-off in AOPs, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment technologies.