MOF-derived CoN/N-C@SiO2 yolk-shell nanoreactor with dual active sites for highly efficient catalytic advanced oxidation processes-dataset

we report a facile route to synthesize a highly efficient and recyclable yolk-shell CoN/N-C@SiO2 nanoreactor with dual active sites by the direct nitridation of MOF@SiO2 precursor. The CoN yolks (∼50–70 nm) as active sites were encapsulated by the hydrophilic SiO2 shells (∼30 nm), and some small dots (∼5–10 nm) was sandwiched between void spaces. In-situ formation of N-doped carbon layer not only served as active sites but also improved electron transfer. The yolk-shell nanoreactors were applied for catalytic tetracycline (TC) degradation by activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), and in the optimal case, it degraded >∼95% TC within 30 min in a wide pH value range of 2.02–9.94. The quenching experiments and EPR measurements further revealed that synergistic effect of the radicals and nonradical in PMS activation, O2−, OH, SO4− and 1O2 were involved in TC degradation. The improved catalytic performances could be ascribed to the following two aspects: (1) the hydrophilic SiO2 shell and the microenvironment formed by the yolk-shell structure not only enhance catalytic stability but also provide driving force to improve reaction rate (structural modulation); (2) CoN core and N doped carbon layer as dual active sites can achieve the synergistic effect of radicals and non-radicals in PMS activation (composition modulation). Moreover, possible degradation pathways of TC were proposed through the identification of intermediates using LC–MS/MS techniques.