Electrostatic Field in Contact-Electro-Catalysis Driven C-F Bond Cleavage of Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent and toxic to human health. It is demanding for high-efficient and green technologies to remove PFASs from water. In this study, a novel PFAS treatment technology was developed, utilizing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles (1-5 μm) as the catalyst and a low frequency ultrasound (US, 40 kHz, 0.3 W/cm²) for activation. Remarkably, this system can induce near-complete defluorination for different structured PFASs. The underlying mechanism relies on contact electrification between PTFE and water, which induces cumulative electrons on PTFE surface, and creates a high surface voltage (tens of volts). Such high surface voltage can generate abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS, i.e., O₂⋅^-, HO⋅, etc.) and a strong interfacial electrostatic field (IEF of 10⁹~10¹⁰ V/m). Consequently, the strong IEF significantly activates PFAS molecules and reduces the energy barrier of O₂⋅^- nucleophilic reaction. Simultaneously, the co-existence of surface electrons (PTFE*(e^-)) and HO⋅ enables synergetic reduction and oxidation of PFAS and its intermediates, leading to enhanced and thorough defluorination. The US/PTFE method shows compelling advantages of low energy consumption, zero chemical input, and few harmful intermediates. It offers a new and promising solution for effectively treating the PFAS-contaminated drinking water.