Preparation of functionalized porous chitin carbon to enhance the H2O2 production and Fe3+ reduction properties of Electro-Fenton cathodes for efficient degradation of RhB

Abstract

The performance of Electro-Fenton (EF) cathode materials is primarily assessed by H2O2 yield and Fe3+ reduction efficiency. This study explores the impact of pore structure in chitin-based porous carbon on EF cathode effectiveness. We fabricated mesoporous carbon (CPC-700-2) and microporous carbon (ZPC-700-3) using template and activation methods, retaining nitrogen from the precursors. CPC-700-2, with mesopores (3–5 nm), enhanced O2 diffusion and oxygen reduction, producing up to 778 mg/L of H2O2 in 90 min. ZPC-700-3, with a specific surface area of 1059.83 m2/g, facilitated electron transport and ion diffusion, achieving a Fe2+/Fe3+ conversion rate of 79.9%. EF systems employing CPC-700-2 or ZPC-700-3 as the cathode exhibited superior degradation performance, achieving 99% degradation of Rhodamine B, efficient degradation, and noticeable decolorization. This study provides a reference for the preparation of functionalized carbon cathode materials for efficient H2O2 production and effective Fe3+ reduction in EF systems.