2D-Like Catalyst with a Micro-nanolinked Functional Surface for Water Purification

In water purification, the performance of heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes significantly relies upon the utilization of the catalyst's specific surface area (SSA). However, the presence of the structural "dead volume" and pore-size-induced diffusion-reaction trade-off limitation restricts the functioning of the SSA. Here, we reported an effective approach to make the best SSA by changing the traditional 3D spherule catalyst into a 2D-like form and creating an in situ micro-nanolinked structure. Thus, a 2D-like catalyst was obtained which was characterized by a mini "paddy field" surface, and it exhibited a sharply decreased dead volume, a highly available SSA and oriented flexibility. Given its paddy-field-like mass-transfer routine, the organic capture capability was 7.5-fold higher than that of the catalyst with mesopores only. Moreover, such a catalyst exhibited a record-high O₃-to-·OH transition rate of 2.86 × 10^-8 compared with reported millimetric catalysts (metal base), which contributed to a 6.12-fold higher total organic removal per catalyst mass than traditional 3D catalysts. The facile scale preparation, performance stability, and significant material savings with the 2D-like catalyst were also beneficial for practical applications. Our findings provide a unique and general approach for designing potential catalysts with excellent performance in water purification.