Fast and Long‐Lasting Iron(III) Reduction by Boron Toward Green and Accelerated Fenton Chemistry

Abstract

Generation of hydroxyl radicals in the Fenton system (Fe^II /H₂ O₂ ) is seriously limited by the sluggish kinetics of Fe^III reduction and fast Fe^III precipitation. Here, boron crystals (C-Boron) remarkably accelerate the Fe^III /Fe^II circulation in Fenton-like systems (C-Boron/Fe^III /H₂ O₂ ) to produce a myriad of hydroxyl radicals with excellent efficiencies in oxidative degradation of various pollutants. The surface B-B bonds and interfacial suboxide boron in the surface B₁₂ icosahedra are the active sites to donate electrons to promote fast Fe^III reduction to Fe^II and further enhance hydroxyl radical production via Fenton chemistry. The C-Boron/Fe^III /H₂ O₂ system outperforms the benchmark Fenton (Fe^II /H₂ O₂ ) and Fe^III -based sulfate radical systems. The reactivity and stability of crystalline boron is much higher than the popular molecular reducing agents, nanocarbons, and other metal/metal-free nanomaterials.