N-Doping-Induced Nonradical Reaction on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Catalytic Phenol Oxidation

Metal-free materials have been demonstrated to be promising alternatives to conventional metal-based catalysts. Catalysis on nanocarbons comparable to that of cobalt- or manganese-based catalysts in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation has been achieved, yet the catalyst stability has to be addressed and the mechanism also needs to be elucidated. In this study, N-doped carbon nanotubes (NoCNTs) were employed as metal-free catalysts for phenol catalytic oxidation with sulfate radicals and, more importantly, a detailed mechanism of PMS activation and the roles of nitrogen heteroatoms were comprehensively investigated. For the first time, a nonradical pathway accompanied by radical generation (•OH and SO4•–) in…

• CU
  Curtin University of Technology
• AR
  Australian Research Council

  Award: DP130101319