Electrocatalytic Generation of Singlet Oxygen via ROS-Mediated Redox Chain Reaction for Efficient Disinfection

The risk of harmful microorganisms to ecosystems and human health has stimulated exploration of singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 )-based disinfection. It can be potentially generated via an electrocatalytic process, but is limited by the low production yield and unclear intermediate-mediated mechanism. Herein, we designed a two-site catalyst (Fe/Mo–N/C) for the selective 1 O 2 generation. The Mo sites enhance the generation of 1 O 2 precursors (H 2 O 2 ), accompanied by the generation of intermediate • HO 2 / • O 2 – . The Fe site facilitates activation of H 2 O 2 into • OH, which accelerates the • HO 2 / • O 2 – into 1 O 2 . A possible mechanism for promoting 1 O 2 production through the ROS-mediated chain reaction is reported. The as-developed electrochemical disinfection system can kill 1 × 10 7 CFU mL –1 of E. coli within 8 min, leading to cell membrane damage and DNA degradation. It can be effectively applied for the disinfection of medical wastewater. This work provides a general strategy for promoting the production of 1 O 2 through electrocatalysis and for efficient electrochemical disinfection.