Conjugated polymers templated carbonization to design N, S co-doped finely tunable carbon for enhanced synergistic catalysis

Abstract Efficient generation of 1O2 nonradical species from persulfate (PS) is demonstrated during heterogeneous catalysis systems based on the use of new Nitrogen and Sulfur doped carbons (NC, SC and NSC), as prepared by direct carbonization of polyaniline/polythiophene conjugated polymers at 800 °C. Complete organic molecules degradations were achieved with high mineralization rate (∼70%) for all systems, over a wide pH range (2.6∼9.5) in the presence of PS. Interestingly, the synergistic effect occurring between the N-Graphitic and the S-Thiophenic sites, modulates the surface electron density toward basic carbon structure (N∼4.76 at% and S∼3.87 at%, with SBET∼251 m2 g−1), leads to increases of the adsorption abilities and the reaction rate constant (from 0.076 to 0.338 min−1), and boosts the carbocatalyst' stability. Our discovery sheds new light on new systems promoting the Fenton-like oxidation process by 1O2 nonradical species, it may be a long-lasting sustainable environmentally strategy for water remediation.