Cobalt Single Atoms Anchored on Oxygen‐Doped Tubular Carbon Nitride for Efficient Peroxymonosulfate Activation: Simultaneous Coordination Structure and Morphology Modulation

Abstract

AbstractSimultaneous regulation of the coordination environment of single‐atom catalysts (SACs) and engineering architectures with efficient exposed active sites are efficient strategies for boosting peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. We isolated cobalt atoms with dual nitrogen and oxygen coordination (Co−N3O1) on oxygen‐doped tubular carbon nitride (TCN) by pyrolyzing a hydrogen‐bonded cyanuric acid melamine–cobalt acetate precursor. The theoretically constructed Co−N3O1 moiety on TCN exhibited an impressive mass activity of 7.61×105 min−1 mol−1 with high 1O2 selectivity. Theoretical calculations revealed that the cobalt single atoms occupied a dual nitrogen and oxygen coordination environment, and that PMS adsorption was promoted and energy barriers reduced for the key *O intermediate that produced 1O2. The catalysts were attached to a widely used poly(vinylidene fluoride) microfiltration membrane to deliver an antibiotic wastewater treatment system with 97.5 % ciprofloxacin rejection over 10 hours, thereby revealing the suitability of the membrane for industrial applications.