Enhanced sulfite activation via piezoelectric BaTiO₃ for efficient antibiotic degradation

This study proposes a method to enhance the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in piezocatalysis by utilizing sulfite (S(IV)) as an electron sacrificial agent. The classic ultrasound (US) and piezoelectric BaTiO₃ system was selected to evaluate how the introduction of S(IV) significantly improved the utilization efficiency of piezoelectric charges. S(IV) rapidly reacts with piezoelectric holes to produce ·SO₄^- and ·OH. Compared to the S(IV)/US system, the removal rate of the target compound metronidazole (MNZ) in the BaTiO₃/S(IV)/US system increased significantly from 40 % to 70 %. Further hole quenching experiments confirmed that ·SO₃^-, generated from the interaction of S(IV) with piezoelectric holes, plays a crucial role in the formation of ·SO₄^- and ·OH. Additionally, basic quenching experiments combined with dissolved oxygen measurements demonstrated the specific reaction processes involving dissolved oxygen in the conversion of ROS. This research presents a novel approach to enhancing the efficiency of piezoelectric charge utilization by introducing electron sacrificial agents, which is beneficial for expanding the strategies for effective pollutant degradation in piezocatalysis coupled with advanced oxidation processes.