Encapsulate SrCoO₃ perovskite crystal within molybdenum disulfide layer as core-shell structure to enhance electron transfer for peroxymonosulfate activation

Perovskite oxides and molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂) are both promising catalysts for advanced oxidation processes in environmental pollutant degradation. Herein, a core-shell structure of MoS₂ encapsulating Sr-Co perovskite microcrystalline (SC@MoS₂) was used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for degradation of organics. Levofloxacin (LVF) degradation by SC@MoS₂/PMS system was improved obviously, and 0.2-SC@MoS₂ exhibited the optimized activation for PMS with best LVF degradation performance (97%) within 15 min. In the 0.2-SC@MoS₂/PMS system, the dosage of catalyst was the key determinant of LVF degradation. Simultaneously, 0.2-SC@MoS₂ achieved outstanding reusability and good degradation capacity of different contaminants. The encapsulation of molybdenum disulfide layer facilitated electron transfer between PMS and core-shell structure. According to the EPR analysis and quenching experiments, both radicals (SO₄^[rad]− and ^[rad]OH), and nonradical (¹O₂) were involved in the degradation of LVF. Under visible light irradiation, O₂^[rad]− participated in the reaction and enhanced LVF degradation efficiency, because the valence band and conduction band of components are different. Furthermore, the density functional theory (DFT) calculation, intermediates determination and Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (T.E.S.T) analysis provided meaningful support in the degradation pathways and ecological risks of LVF residues.