The
catalyst with a special exposed active facet and multivalent
element synergism is much desired for advanced oxidation progress
(AOP) reaction. Herein, an emerging substrate, Cu-incorporated Mo2C, with an active (002) facet exposed was developed by one-step
calcination to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) toward antibiotic
degradation. Combining the multivalent Cu–Mo synergistic effect
and Cu complexing interaction, Cu was incorporated onto the Mo2C surface to further enhance its antibiotic removal through
PMS activation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission
electron microscopy (TEM) measurements indicated the 5% Cu–Mo2C exhibited in the hexagonal nanosheet with Cu uniformly dispersed
on the surface. Moreover, 5% Cu–Mo2C displayed excellent
PMS activation which could fully degrade the tetracycline (TC) within
20 min, and the degradation rate was found to be at least 20 times
higher than those of pure Mo2C, classical Fe2O3 and Co3O4, and Fenton reaction
of 5% Cu–Mo2C. The results were found to be ascribed
to enhanced electrical conductivity, multivalent Cu–Mo synergism,
and increased generation of active radicals which contributed in the
sequence SO4•– > •OH
>
O2
•–. Surface chemical analysis
combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed
that both Cu2+/Cu+ and Mo6+/Mo4+/Mo2+ redox cycles occurred on the (002) plane
of Mo2C, which dominated more free electrons and mainly
accounted for facilitating PMS activation. Meanwhile, systematically
conditional experiments uncovered that the 5% Cu–Mo2C exhibited superb catalysis even under a wide pH and temperature,
various natural polluted waters and coexisting ions, and long-time
recycle. In addition, the as-prepared catalyst presented excellent
adaptability for the degradation of different organic effluents originated
from medical, dyeing, and beneficiation wastewaters. Considering its
great performance, stability, and applicability, 5% Cu–Mo2C would be a capable candidate for PMS activation toward large-scale
practical application in environmental remediation.