Understanding the role of transition metal single-atom electronic structure in oxysulfur radical-mediated oxidative degradation

The ubiquity of refractory organic matter in aquatic environments necessitates innovative removal strategies. Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation has emerged as an attractive solution, offering high selectivity, enduring efficacy, and anti-interference ability. Among many technologies, sulfite activation, leveraging its cost-effectiveness and lower toxicity compared to conventional persulfates, stands out. Yet, the activation process often relies on transition metals, suffering from low atom utilization. Here we introduce a series of single-atom catalysts (SACs) employing transition metals on g-C3N4 substrates, effectively activating sulfite for acetaminophen degradation. We highlight the superior performance of Fe/CN, which demonstrates a degradation rate constant significantly surpassing those of Ni/CN and Cu/CN. Our investigation into the electronic and spin polarization characteristics of these catalysts reveals their critical role in catalytic efficiency, with oxysulfur radical-mediated reactions predominating. Notably, under visible light, the catalytic activity is enhanced, attributed to an increased generation of oxysulfur radicals and a strengthened electron donation-back donation dynamic. The proximity of Fe/CN's d-band center to the Fermi level, alongside its high spin polarization, is shown to improve sulfite adsorption and reduce the HOMO-LUMO gap, thereby accelerating photo-assisted sulfite activation. This work advances the understanding of SACs in environmental applications and lays the groundwork for future water treatment technologies. [Display omitted] •The electronic structures of transition metals are key on sulfite activation.•The intense spin polarization of Fe leads to its strong activation of sulfite.•The rate constant for the Fe single-atom exceeds that of Ni and Cu.•Oxysulfur radical-triggered oxidative degradation mechanism was revealed.•Fe single-atom catalyst presents promising prospect for sulfite activation.