New Insights into the Generation of Singlet Oxygen in the Metal-Free Peroxymonosulfate Activation Process: Important Role of Electron-Deficient Carbon Atoms

A nonradical oxidation process via metal-free peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation has recently attracted considerable attention for organic pollutant degradation; however, the origin of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation still remains controversial. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (NCN-900) derived from graphitic carbon nitride were developed for activation of PMS and elucidation of ¹O₂ production. With a large specific surface area (1218.7 m² g^-1) and high nitrogen content (14.5 at %), NCN-900 exhibits superior catalytic activity in PMS activation, as evidenced by complete degradation of bisphenol A within 2 min using 0.1 g L^-1 NCN-900 and 2 mM PMS. Moreover, the reaction rate constant fitted by pseudo-first-order kinetics for NCN-900 reaches an impressive value of 3.1 min^-1. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements and quenching tests verified ¹O₂ as the primary reactive oxygen species in the NCN-900/PMS system. Based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and theoretical calculations, an unexpected generation pathway of ¹O₂ involving PMS oxidation over the electron-deficient carbon atoms neighboring graphitic N in NCN-900 was unraveled. Besides, the NCN-900/PMS system is also applicable for remediation of actual industrial wastewater. This work highlights the important role of electron-deficient carbon atoms in ¹O₂ generation from PMS oxidation and furnishes theoretical support for further relevant studies.