Mof-derived CuO/Co3O4 heterojunction with built-in electric field drives high valent metal species generation for efficient pollutant degradation

MOF-derived CuO/Co 3 O 4 heterojunctions were constructed for efficient PMS activation. • The interfacial built-in electric field induces directional electron transfer from Co to Cu. • High-valent metal species and non-radical pathways dominate BPA degradation. • Enhanced PMS adsorption promotes O − O bond cleavage and a non-radical pathway. Efficient removal of phenolic endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A (BPA), remains a significant challenge in complex aquatic environments. In this study, a CuO/Co heterojunction catalyst (CuCo-NC X ) was developed by anchoring Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles onto MOF derived CuO/carbon composites for the high-performance activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The CuCo-NC/PMS system exhibited superior catalytic activity, achieving a 97.8% removal of BPA within 40 min, with a corresponding apparent rate constant of 0.1111 min −1 . Furthermore, it demonstrated exceptional anti-interference capability and selectivity in complex aqueous matrices containing various co-existing anions and natural organic matter. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and systematic characterization revealed that a built-in electric field (BIEF) formed at the CuO/Co 3 O 4 interface strongly drives directional electron transfer from Co sites to Cu sites. During the catalytic process, the electron-rich Cu acts as an electron reservoir, significantly promoting the Co redox cycle through an electron feedback effect, which induces the generation of high-valent metal species (HVMs) and optimizes the PMS activation pathway. This study not only develops a high-performance catalytic platform for eliminating endocrine disruptors but also provides new insights into modulating heterogeneous catalytic pathways via interfacial BIEF. Download: Download high-res image (198KB) Download: Download full-size image