Building heteroatom (N, S, B, O) and metal-codoped carbocatalyst as persulfate activator for organic pollutant removal: A miss or match?

The activation of persulfate (PS) by metal (Me)-based catalysts shows great activity due to the compatible redox potential of Me-species. However, the catalytic performance of pristine Me-based catalysts may be restricted by the agglomeration of the Me particles, minimized exposure of active sites, and inevitable leaching. Currently, these drawbacks are being solved with the formation of metal-heteroatom‑carbon (Me−HA − C) materials, in which the major HAs investigated were N, O, S, and B. In Me−HA − C/PS systems, the existence of Me−HA − C interaction brings rise to synergistic catalytic effects, enhancing the overall catalytic reactivity. Herein, we provided a short review on the potential of Me−HA − C materials in PS activation with emphasis on the synergy between the Me- and HA-species during the catalytic reaction. Thereafter, we discussed the performance and proposed future research directions to further escalate the potential of finding an applicable catalytic system based on Me−HA − C materials for water remediation. This review is of value for understanding the intra-actions and synergy between the components of Me−HA − C during catalytic PS activation.