Synergetic palladium-modulated and B/N Lewis pair-functionalized flocculent carbon fibres as robust catalyst: Mechanism insight for indoor HCHO decomposition

In this study, electron-deficient boron and electron-rich nitrogen are designed as the B/N Lewis pair to capture HCHO, and in next step the adsorbed HCHO is degraded into CO 2 and H 2 O (mineralization efficiency 97%) via the Fenton-like O 2 activation and generation singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), superoxide radicals (•O 2 − ) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) derived from the interaction between palladium nanoparticles and oxygen molecule. Experimental data and theoretical calculations reveal the optimal path as follows: HCHO + OH ⁎ (•OH) → HCHOOH ⁎ → HCOOH + OH ⁎ (•OH) → CHO 2 ⁎ + O ⁎ ( 1 O 2 and •O 2 − ) → CO 2 , which correspond to the lowest energy barrier for elementary reaction. This study demonstrates a strong catalytic HCHO oxidation process and a new insights into exploiting synergetic palladium-modulated and B/N Lewis pair-functionalized flocculent carbon fibres for room-temperature HCHO decomposition. • Electron-deficient boron and electron-rich nitrogen are designed as B/N Lewis pair. • Fenton-like O 2 activation and generation active oxygen species are found. • Synergetic active oxygen and hydroxyl species for catalytic HCHO oxidation are realized.