Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment
Abstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems have emerged as a prominent renewable energy-based technology for wastewater treatment, offering sustainable advantages such as eliminating dependence on fossil fuels or grid electricity compared to traditional electrochemical treatment methods. However, p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44155-5 |
| _version_ | 1797376946963742720 |
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| author | Qi Dang Wei Zhang Jiqing Liu Liting Wang Deli Wu Dejin Wang Zhendong Lei Liang Tang |
| author_facet | Qi Dang Wei Zhang Jiqing Liu Liting Wang Deli Wu Dejin Wang Zhendong Lei Liang Tang |
| author_sort | Qi Dang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems have emerged as a prominent renewable energy-based technology for wastewater treatment, offering sustainable advantages such as eliminating dependence on fossil fuels or grid electricity compared to traditional electrochemical treatment methods. However, previous PEC systems often overlook the potential of ions present in wastewater as an alternative to externally applied bias voltage for enhancing carrier separation efficiency. Here we report a bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical (IAPEC) system by integration of an electron-ion acceptor cathode, which leverages its fast ion-electron coupling capability to significantly enhance the separation of electrons and holes at the photoanode. We demonstrate that Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) can serve as robust and reversible electron-ion acceptors that provide reaction sites for photoelectron coupling cations, thus driving the hole oxidation to produce strong oxidant free radicals at photoanode. Our IAPEC system exhibits superior degradation performance in wastewater containing chloride medium. This indicates that, in addition to the cations (e.g., Na+) accelerating the electron transfer rate, the presence of Cl– ions further enhance efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment. This work highlights the potential of utilizing abundant sodium chloride in seawater as a cost-effective additive for wastewater treatment, offering crucial insights into the use of local materials for effective, low-carbon, and sustainable treatment processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:45:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f26cf7ee00a2427bbbf742e0c0fdcd1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:45:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-f26cf7ee00a2427bbbf742e0c0fdcd1d2023-12-24T12:23:12ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-12-0114111310.1038/s41467-023-44155-5Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatmentQi Dang0Wei Zhang1Jiqing Liu2Liting Wang3Deli Wu4Dejin Wang5Zhendong Lei6Liang Tang7Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, IRIS Adlershof & The Center for the Science of Materials Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinKey Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai UniversityKey Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai UniversityCollege of Environmental & Engineering, Tongji UniversitySchool of Resources and Environment, Anqing Normal UniversityCollege of Environmental & Engineering, Tongji UniversityKey Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai UniversityAbstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems have emerged as a prominent renewable energy-based technology for wastewater treatment, offering sustainable advantages such as eliminating dependence on fossil fuels or grid electricity compared to traditional electrochemical treatment methods. However, previous PEC systems often overlook the potential of ions present in wastewater as an alternative to externally applied bias voltage for enhancing carrier separation efficiency. Here we report a bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical (IAPEC) system by integration of an electron-ion acceptor cathode, which leverages its fast ion-electron coupling capability to significantly enhance the separation of electrons and holes at the photoanode. We demonstrate that Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) can serve as robust and reversible electron-ion acceptors that provide reaction sites for photoelectron coupling cations, thus driving the hole oxidation to produce strong oxidant free radicals at photoanode. Our IAPEC system exhibits superior degradation performance in wastewater containing chloride medium. This indicates that, in addition to the cations (e.g., Na+) accelerating the electron transfer rate, the presence of Cl– ions further enhance efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment. This work highlights the potential of utilizing abundant sodium chloride in seawater as a cost-effective additive for wastewater treatment, offering crucial insights into the use of local materials for effective, low-carbon, and sustainable treatment processes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44155-5 |
| spellingShingle | Qi Dang Wei Zhang Jiqing Liu Liting Wang Deli Wu Dejin Wang Zhendong Lei Liang Tang Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment Nature Communications |
| title | Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment |
| title_full | Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment |
| title_fullStr | Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment |
| title_short | Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment |
| title_sort | bias free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44155-5 |
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