Full utilization of Cu single atoms on carbon nitride nanofibers for enhanced Fenton-like degradation of methylene blue

Abstract

The utilization efficiency of single atoms is limited by the active sites being buried in support. To maximize atom utilization, Cu single atoms are anchored on the external surface of g-C3N4 nanofibers (CNNFs), which are fabricated by partial thermal decomposition and subsequent self-assembly in H2O. The abundant N and O-containing functional groups of CNNFs are vital for the loading of Cu. Benefited from the full utilization of Cu sites, CNNF-Cu exhibits excellent Fenton-like catalytic activity for Methylene Blue degradation. The reaction kinetic constant is more than 10 times higher than that of the traditional single-atom catalyst with Cu sites evenly distributed throughout the entire support. CNNF-Cu maintains most of its catalytic activity after five cycle tests, suggesting good stability. This work provides a convenient method to maximize the utilization of single metal atoms for catalytic applications.