Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Effect for Superior Fenton-Like Catalysis

Nanomaterial-mediated Fenton-like reactions, central tools to address the increasing prevalence of micropollutants, predominantly use chemically stable hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as the oxidant despite its high activation energy that leads to rather low catalytic activity. Here, we report that the efficiency of Fenton-like reaction can be substantially increased through the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, initiated by a plasmonic catalyst comprising a ruthenium nanocluster anchored on titanium dioxide nanobelt (TNB-Ru). Experimental results and simulation studies unravel the formation of LSPR on the catalyst surface upon visible light irradiation, which promises the conversion of photon energy into localized heat, contributing to remarkable catalytic performance and high utilization rate of H₂O₂ (40%) in Fenton-like reaction. Achieving comparable Fenton-like activity is possible only when the catalytic system is subjected to energy-intensive heating at 80 °C, highlighting the feasibility of the LSPR effect initiated at an ambient condition with mild light irradiation. The Fenton-like system also comes with superior catalytic performance and appreciable durability in a continuous-flow reactor, as reflected by the 100% degradation efficiency over consecutive operation. This work offers viable strategy for the development of plasmonic catalytic systems that can be applied in sustainable energy- and environmental-related reactions.