Citation: Keyi Gao, Yunbo Wu, Shulin Shen, Dawei Wang, Yilan Jiang. Plasma-induced oxygen vacancy on Co₃O₄ for enhanced singlet oxygen generation via peroxymonosulfate activation[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(8): 112286. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112286 shu

Plasma-induced oxygen vacancy on Co₃O₄ for enhanced singlet oxygen generation via peroxymonosulfate activation

Keyi Gao ^a ,
Yunbo Wu ^b ,
Shulin Shen ^a ,
Dawei Wang ^a ,
Yilan Jiang ^{a, *,}

a.
Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
b.
Jiangsu Academy of Environmental Industry and Technology Corporation, Nanjing 210019, China

yljiang@hhu.edu.cn

Received Date: 19 August 2025
Revised Date: 23 October 2025
Accepted Date: 15 December 2025
Available Online: 15 December 2025

Figures(4)

In this study, a simple N₂ plasma strategy was employed to modify the surface of Co₃O₄, significantly enhancing its efficiency in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). Co₃O₄ treated with plasma for 30 min (Co₃O₄–30) achieved a TC degradation efficiency of 93.2% within 30 min (k = 0.078 min⁻¹), which was significantly higher than that of the pristine Co₃O₄ (k = 0.023 min⁻¹). Studies demonstrated that plasma treatment induced the generation of oxygen vacancies (O_v) on the surface of Co₃O₄, which serve as key active sites during the catalytic process and facilitate the adsorption of PMS to generate singlet oxygen (¹O₂). As the dominant reactive oxygen species, the steady-state concentration of ¹O₂ was positively correlated with the TC degradation rate. Additionally, dominated by the non-radical pathway, the PMS/Co₃O₄–30 system exhibited high selectivity toward electron-rich pollutants as well as strong anti-interference capability against anions and complex water matrices. This study demonstrates that plasma technology serves as a viable approach for defect engineering in catalysts, enabling the selective generation of ¹O₂ from PMS.
- Plasma treatment,
- Oxygen vacancy,
- Cobalt-based oxide,
- Peroxymonosulfate activation,
- Singlet oxygen
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Plasma-induced oxygen vacancy on Co₃O₄ for enhanced singlet oxygen generation via peroxymonosulfate activation