Controlled synthesis of water–soluble Pt nanoclusters and their co–catalysis with RuO2–IrO2 for electrochemical degradation of tetracycline

Abstract

Pt atomic–level engineering to achieve minimal Pt dosage and maximum electrocatalytic performance is an effective electrocatalyst design strategy. Here a one–step route to synthesize ultrasmall L–Cysteine–protected Pt8 nanoclusters (NCs) and co–catalysis with RuO2–IrO2 for electrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline is shown. Benefiting from sulfhydryl ligand protection and atomic–precision structure, the nanocluster electrocatalyst not only showed outstanding anti–sintering properties but also exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity (degradation efficiency of 100% and mineralization rate of 73.8%) and high stability for tetracycline degradation, demonstrating the application potentials of Pt NCs catalyst for industrially electrochemical oxidation under practical technical conditions. Moreover, the electrocatalytic degradation mechanism of tetracycline was proposed by determining intermediates using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. This work provides an efficient atomic–level engineering strategy to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of Pt–based electrocatalysts, which has important implications for environmental remediation of antibiotic contaminated wastewater.