Defect-boosted molybdenite-based co-catalytic Fenton reaction

Introducing a metal sulfide-based co-catalyst is an effective strategy to substantially enhance the Fenton reaction. Manipulation of the co-catalyst's structure is expected to further boost the co-catalytic capability. Herein, we demonstrate that the intrinsic high-defect surface of a natural molybdenite material contributes to the enhancement of catalytic performance of the Fenton reaction. The defective surface not only exposes more Mo(IV) active sites for rapid Fe3+/Fe2+ conversion but also promotes cooperation with H2O2 molecules for reactivation. This synergistic effect brings about enhanced reaction kinetics and boosts the decomposition of H2O2, which causes the molybdenite co-catalytic system to display an efficient removal rate for various organic pollutants. This work unveils the defects’ contribution for catalyzing the Fenton reaction and sheds light on the potential large-scale water treatment use cases for abundant high-defect molybdenite materials.