Abstract:
In recent years, the advanced oxidation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activated by single-atom catalysts (SACs) has garnered significant attention due to its efficacy in the stable treatment of persistent organic pollutants in wastewater. However, the underlying mechanisms driving the activation of PMS by SACs to generate reactive oxidative species (ROS), as well as the structure-performance relationships, remain poorly understood. This study presents the synthesis of Ni/MoS
2 monoatomic catalysts, featuring uniformly dispersed Ni atoms, through a hydrothermal method utilizing MoS
2 as the substrate. We conducted an in-depth analysis of the intrinsic mechanisms by which this catalyst activates PMS for the degradation of tetracycline (TC). The results indicate that the Ni
0.2/MoS
2 single-atom catalyst achieved a TC degradation rate of 88.1% within 60 min, which is 3.2 times higher than that of MoS
2. Both experimental findings and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the incorporation of Ni atoms reduces the adsorption energy barrier of PMS, thereby enhancing the generation of ROS and significantly improving catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the Ni
0.2@MoS
2 catalyst exhibits a more stable structure and superior cycling stability. This paper provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for the doping of heteroatoms in MoS
2 nanomaterials and offers a novel strategy for the development of efficient PMS activators.