Dual-substrate synergistic catalysis of WS₂-Fe clusters on recycled plastic-derived N-doped carbon for H₂O₂ activation

This work elucidated the dual-substrate activation mechanism of a Fenton-like system, enabled by the upcycling of plastics into a highly efficient catalyst. A synergistic pyrolysis strategy was employed to upcycle polyethylene microplastics into nitrogen-doped carbon while simultaneously constructing Fe clusters and WS₂ co-catalyst (WS₂/Fe-N-C). In the H₂O₂ activation system, WS₂/Fe-N-C achieved a remarkable rate constant of 0.949 min⁻¹ toward bisphenol A, which was 52 times higher than that of Fe-N-C, outperforming previously reported representative co-catalyst systems and Fe-based carbon catalysts. Correlation analysis, electrochemical tests and theoretical calculations demonstrated that Fe sites primarily activated H₂O₂ to generate •OH, while WS₂ adsorbed bisphenol A and facilitated a non-radical electron transfer pathway, enabling dual-substrate synergistic catalysis for highly efficient pollutant removal. This work provides a feasible strategy for plastic upcycling and offers innovative insights into the synergy between metal centers and cocatalysts, paving the way for the rational design of high-performance catalysts.