Polarized Mo–O Units on g-C3N4 for enhanced photo-Fenton activity

Abstract

Photo-Fenton technology is promising for organic wastewater treatment but suffers from poor charge separation and weak H₂O₂ activation. Here, we report a graphitic carbon nitride catalyst with polarized Mo–O units (CN-Mo-O). Spectroscopic analyses reveal that Mo–O units facilitate efficient charge separation and prolong carrier lifetime. Theoretical calculations indicate that polarized Mo–O centers lower the surface work function, accelerating H₂O₂ activation and superoxide radical generation. This synergistic regulation of photoexcited dynamics and surface activation enables excellent catalytic performance. This work demonstrates that coordination design of active centers effectively synchronizes photophysical and catalytic optimization.