As the most potent greenhouse gas, SF6 can
cause persistent
harm to the environment if discharged directly to the air. Therefore,
it is necessary to develop an efficient approach for its disposal
and resource utilization. Here, we discovered the mechanochemical
degradation of SF6 by graphite under mild conditions, along
with the formation of an S-containing fluorinated graphitic carbon
material (SFGCM) with over 8% of sulfur and 12% of fluorine, being
a “one-stone-two-birds” strategy. The unexpected reaction
between SF6 and graphite with least reactivity may be ascribed
to the intensive mechanical stress and grinding on graphite for its
size miniaturization and radical formation at the cutting edges, as
well as their synergistic activation for SF6. The resultant
SFGCM is composed of few-layered graphite nanomaterial with rich porosity,
high specific surface area (380 m2 g–1), good amphiphilicity, and excellent adsorptivity for heavy metals
(Hg2+) from aqueous solution. This study provides a viable
way for the resource utilization of SF6, and sheds light
on the massive degradation of various greenhouse F-gases in the future.