Turning the Inert Element Zinc into an Active Single‐Atom Catalyst for Efficient Fenton‐Like Chemistry

Abstract Amongst various Fenton‐like single‐atom catalysts (SACs), the zinc (Zn)‐related SACs have been barely reported due to the fully occupied 3d 10 configuration of Zn 2+ being inactive for the Fenton‐like reaction. Herein, the inert element Zn is turned into an active single‐atom catalyst (SA−Zn−NC) for Fenton‐like chemistry by forming an atomic Zn−N 4 coordination structure. The SA−Zn−NC shows admirable Fenton‐like activity in organic pollutant remediation, including self‐oxidation and catalytic degradation by superoxide radical (O 2 ⋅ − ) and singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ). Experimental and theoretical results unveiled that the single‐atomic Zn−N 4 site with electron acquisition can transfer electrons donated by electron‐rich pollutants and low‐concentration PMS toward dissolved oxygen (DO) to actuate DO reduction into O 2 ⋅ − and successive conversion into 1 O 2 . This work inspires an exploration of efficient and stable Fenton‐like SACs for sustainable and resource‐saving environmental applications.