Facet effect of hematite on the hydrolysis of phthalate esters under ambient humidity conditions

ABSTRACT: Phthalate esters (PAEs) have been extensively used as additives in plastics and wallcovering, causing severe environmental contamination and increasing public health concerns. Here, we find that hematite nanoparticles with specific facet-control can efficiently catalyze PAEs hydrolysis under ambient humidity conditions, with the hydrolysis rates 2 orders of magnitude higher than that in water saturated condition. The catalytic performance of hematite shows a significant facet-dependence with the reactivity in the order {012} > {104} ≫ {001}, related to the atomic array of surface undercoordinated Fe. The {012} and {104} facets with the proper neighboring Fe-Fe distance of 0.34-0.39 nm can bidentately coordinate with PAEs, and thus induce much stronger Lewis-acid catalysis. Our study may in

SUBMITTER: Jin X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9576771 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature