Diamond and Carbon Materials

Scarcity of pure water worldwide is dramatically affecting the economic development of Third Countries but also the industrial growth of others. Towards the water recycling and reuse, Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAOPs) are of high interest since they are very efficient in the degradation of refractory pollutants that cannot be eliminated by conventional techniques. Amongst them, the electro-Fenton (EF) process allows the in situ generation of highly reactive and nonselective hydroxyl radicals indirectly by cathodic oxygen reduction, its subsequent H2O2 production and further Fenton reaction (eq. 1).

Fe2+ + H2O2 + H+ → Fe3+ + •OH + H2O (eq. 1)

Carbon felt is a good candidate to produce H2O2 from the reduction of dissolved oxygen [1] but it suffers from drawbacks like relatively low electronic conductivity and electrochemical active surface area. With the aim to increase carbon felt efficiency toward the electro-Fenton process, we develop in our research team, different modification routes to get microporous reactive carbon-based structures. It deals from basic thermal treatment under controlled atmosphere [2] to microporous carboneous coating prepared by combining Atomic Layer Deposition and solvothermal MOF growth on carbon felt [3], going through graphene functionalization [4] and LDH deposition for heterogeneous catalysis [5]. We will discuss synthesis, characterization and electrocatalytic properties of the different structures. Carbon based materials will be then integrated in a electrolysis system for water treatment but also in a prospective fuel cell – Fenton system for zero-energy water depollution [3]. Efficiency will be shown through the degradation and mineralization of pharmaceutical residues and organic dyes.