Mn−O Covalency Governs the Intrinsic Activity of Co‐Mn Spinel Oxides for Boosted Peroxymonosulfate Activation

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 274 - 280
• Main Authors: Guo, Zhi‐Yan, Li, Chen‐Xuan, Gao, Miao, Han, Xiao, Zhang, Ying‐Jie, Zhang, Wen‐Jun, Li, Wen‐Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 04-01-2021
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: bimetal; Bimetals; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Charge transfer; Covalence; covalency; Electron transfer; Energy charge; Environmental degradation; Metal oxides; octahedron; Oxides; peroxymonosulfate (PMS); Pollutants; Redox properties; Spinel; spinel oxides; Theoretical analysis; Transition metals; octahedron; peroxymonosulfate (PMS); covalency; spinel oxides; bimetal
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202010828

Transition metal (TM)‐based bimetallic spinel oxides can efficiently activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) presumably attributed to enhanced electron transfer between TMs, but the existing model cannot fully explain the efficient TM redox cycling. Here, we discover a critical role of TM−O covalency in governing the intrinsic catalytic activity of Co3−xMnxO4 spinel oxides. Experimental and theoretical analysis reveals that the Co sites significantly raises the Mn valence and enlarges Mn−O covalency in octahedral configuration, thereby lowering the charge transfer energy to favor MnOh–PMS interaction. With appropriate MnIV/MnIII ratio to balance PMS adsorption and MnIV reduction, the Co1.1Mn1.9O4 exhibits remarkable catalytic activities for PMS activation and pollutant degradation, outperforming all the reported TM spinel oxides. The improved understandings on the origins of spinel oxides activity for PMS activation may inspire the development of more active and robust metal oxide catalysts.
The Mn−O covalency was enlarged by the Co sites mainly in the octahedral configuration, which results in a decreased charge transfer energy to favor Mn–PMS interaction and enhance MnIV reduction to boost PMS activation activity of Co‐Mn spinel oxides.