Efficient Triboelectric Catalytic Activities in High Temperature of Fe⁰/FeOOH

In this study, an ultrasonic-assisted Fe⁰/FeOOH triboelectric catalytic system was proposed that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is subsequently converted into chemical energy for the degradation of organic pollutants. The Fe⁰/FeOOH system exhibits high efficiency, achieving degradation rates of 99.3%, 97.1%, 96.9%, and 88.2% for crystal violet (CV), tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chloramphenicol (CHL), respectively, within 15 min. The kinetic constant K for CV degradation is 0.3301 min^-1. The triboelectric catalytic degradation efficiency of Fe⁰/FeOOH increased by more than 300% compared to the single catalyst. EPR and radical scavenging experiments confirm the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) and superoxide radicals (^•O₂^-). A model of an electron cloud-potential well is presented to clarify the triboelectric catalysis mechanisms based on the extent of electron cloud overlap and the frequency of charge transfer. LC-MS analysis detected the molecular ion peak of Michler's ketone (m/z 269, [M + H]⁺), which, together with the UV-vis peak at 376 nm, supports the conjugated structure cleavage pathway of CV. Furthermore, the Fe⁰/FeOOH system maintains excellent catalytic performance at high temperatures, demonstrating strong high-temperature resistance, laying a foundation for its practical application.