Three-dimensional interface engineering via CoMoO₄@Co₃O₄ immobilized on nickel foam for sulfamethoxazole degradation with enhanced electron transfer and high-efficiency peroxymonosulfate activation

This work elucidated the mechanism of the heterojunction structure in bolstering peroxymonosulfate (PMS) adsorption and reducing the energy barrier for electron transfer. A three-dimensional interface engineering via CoMoO₄@Co₃O₄ immobilized on nickel foam (CoMoO₄@Co₃O₄/NF) was designed and systematically analyzed using characterization, experimental, and calculation results. The CoMoO₄@Co₃O₄/NF/PMS system could achieve 100 % sulfamethoxazole degradation within 10 min. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited exceptional activity (0.578 min⁻¹), stability (maintaining > 95.1 % efficiency across pH 3.0–11.0), and facile recyclability (with 98.2 % removal after six cycles), which was further verified in continuous flow systems. Density functional theory calculations revealed the robust built-in electric field at the CoMoO₄@Co₃O₄ interface, enabling the rapid and efficient migration of electrons to activate PMS for producing more reactive oxygen species (primarily SO₄^•− and ¹O₂). This work underscores the significance of interface engineering in designing efficient catalysts for practical environmental applications and provides a promising solution for sustainable wastewater treatment.