Atomically disperse Fe(III) species on the MoS2 basal plane as an efficient peracetic acid activator for water decontamination

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) is viewed as a promising two-dimensional Fenton-like catalyst, but the basal plane could not be well applied in peroxides activation. In this study, Fe(III) species were atomically impregnated on the MoS 2 basal plane to enhance peracetic acid (PAA) activation. The surface Fe(III) up shifted the d-band centre of MoS 2 and acted as electron shuttles in breaking the O-O bonds of PAA. HO • , CH 3 COO • and Fe(V) were generated in the Fe(III)-MoS 2 /PAA system, whereas the 1 O 2 production was inhibited on the Fe(III)-MoS 2 surface. Sulfamethazine (SMT) was efficiently degraded by Fe(III)-MoS 2 /PAA during 15 min reaction, with the observed removal efficiencies of SMT by Fe(III)-MoS 2 ( k obs ) being 25-fold higher than that by MoS 2 . Increasing the dosages of PAA and Fe(III)-MoS 2 facilitated SMT degradation, and high removal rate of SMT was achieved in the pH range of 3–5. HO • and Fe(V) were identified as critical reactive species responsible for the SMT degradation. Nitrification and Smiles rearrangement were proposed as the degradation pathways of SMT based on the identified oxidation products. This study demonstrates that impregnating Fe species would be an effective strategy for strengthening the Fenton-like reactivity of MoS 2 .