IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-62930-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Anchored atomic Ru-O4 architecture enables ultra-effective Fe(VI) activation via avoiding Fe(VI) self-decay for water purification

Author

Listed:
  • Yundan Chen

    (Peking University)

  • Xiaofei Ge

    (Peking University)

  • Jun Li

    (Shanghai Jiao tong University)

  • Zishuai Bill Zhang

    (Peking University
    Peking University)

  • Zhenshan Li

    (Peking University)

Abstract

Ferrate (Fe(VI)) is a prospective green oxidant owing to producing highly reactive Fe(IV)/Fe(V) for micropollutant degradation. However, the performance is significantly compromised by the severe side reaction of Fe(VI) self-decay with H2O, generating H2O2 byproduct that quickly quenches Fe(IV)/Fe(V). In this study, we synthesized a single-ruthenium-atom catalyst (RuGN) to activate Fe(VI) to selectively produce Fe(IV)/Fe(V)/Ru(V) for antibiotic degradation, with record-fast ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation kinetics (~18.7 min−1 g−1 L). Since Fe(VI) preferentially reacts with RuGN rather than H2O, RuGN inhibits Fe(VI) self-decay, thus decreasing the H2O2 production. Moreover, RuGN consumes H2O2 (that quenches Fe(IV)/Fe(V)/Ru(V)) in the reaction system, which significantly improves the Fe(VI) utilization rate. Compared with other typical transition metal single-atom catalysts, RuGN exhibits moderate interactions with Fe(VI) and thus facilitates the electron transfer via Ru-O-Fe coordination to activate Fe(VI) for efficient CIP degradation. The RuGN/Fe(VI) system resists interference from background substances coexisting in water, achieving efficient CIP degradation under complex water chemistry conditions and in real water samples. The system can also efficiently degrade CIP in continuous-flow reactors. This work develops a promising strategy for improving Fe(VI) activation via regulating the interaction between the metal site and Fe(VI), holding immense potential for deep wastewater purification.

Suggested Citation

  • Yundan Chen & Xiaofei Ge & Jun Li & Zishuai Bill Zhang & Zhenshan Li, 2025. "Anchored atomic Ru-O4 architecture enables ultra-effective Fe(VI) activation via avoiding Fe(VI) self-decay for water purification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62930-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62930-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62930-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-62930-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tongcai Liu & Shaoze Xiao & Nan Li & Jiabin Chen & Xuefei Zhou & Yajie Qian & Ching-Hua Huang & Yalei Zhang, 2023. "Water decontamination via nonradical process by nanoconfined Fenton-like catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Fengbo Yu & Chao Jia & Xuan Wu & Liming Sun & Zhijian Shi & Tao Teng & Litao Lin & Zhelin He & Jie Gao & Shicheng Zhang & Liang Wang & Shaobin Wang & Xiangdong Zhu, 2023. "Rapid self-heating synthesis of Fe-based nanomaterial catalyst for advanced oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Zhi Wen Chen & Jian Li & Pengfei Ou & Jianan Erick Huang & Zi Wen & LiXin Chen & Xue Yao & GuangMing Cai & Chun Cheng Yang & Chandra Veer Singh & Qing Jiang, 2024. "Unusual Sabatier principle on high entropy alloy catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Dongpeng Zhang & Yanxiao Li & Pengfei Wang & Jinyong Qu & Yi Li & Sihui Zhan, 2023. "Dynamic active-site induced by host-guest interactions boost the Fenton-like reaction for organic wastewater treatment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Deyou Yu & Licong Xu & Kaixing Fu & Xia Liu & Shanli Wang & Minghua Wu & Wangyang Lu & Chunyu Lv & Jinming Luo, 2024. "Electronic structure modulation of iron sites with fluorine coordination enables ultra-effective H2O2 activation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Xiang Zhang & Jingjing Tang & Lingling Wang & Chuan Wang & Lei Chen & Xinqing Chen & Jieshu Qian & Bingcai Pan, 2024. "Nanoconfinement-triggered oligomerization pathway for efficient removal of phenolic pollutants via a Fenton-like reaction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    7. Shengjie Wei & Yibing Sun & Yun-Ze Qiu & Ang Li & Ching-Yu Chiang & Hai Xiao & Jieshu Qian & Yadong Li, 2023. "Self-carbon-thermal-reduction strategy for boosting the Fenton-like activity of single Fe-N4 sites by carbon-defect engineering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    8. Qi Dang & Wei Zhang & Jiqing Liu & Liting Wang & Deli Wu & Dejin Wang & Zhendong Lei & Liang Tang, 2023. "Bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical system for sustainable wastewater treatment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Felix Wong & Erica J. Zheng & Jacqueline A. Valeri & Nina M. Donghia & Melis N. Anahtar & Satotaka Omori & Alicia Li & Andres Cubillos-Ruiz & Aarti Krishnan & Wengong Jin & Abigail L. Manson & Jens Fr, 2024. "Discovery of a structural class of antibiotics with explainable deep learning," Nature, Nature, vol. 626(7997), pages 177-185, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zelin Wu & Zhaokun Xiong & Bingkun Huang & Gang Yao & Sihui Zhan & Bo Lai, 2024. "Long-range interactions driving neighboring Fe–N4 sites in Fenton-like reactions for sustainable water decontamination," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Chao-Hai Gu & Song Wang & Ai-Yong Zhang & Chang Liu & Jun Jiang & Han-Qing Yu, 2024. "Tuning electronic structure of metal-free dual-site catalyst enables exclusive singlet oxygen production and in-situ utilization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Zhi-Quan Zhang & Pi-Jun Duan & Jie-Xuan Zheng & Yun-Qiu Xie & Chang-Wei Bai & Yi-Jiao Sun & Xin-Jia Chen & Fei Chen & Han-Qing Yu, 2025. "Nano-island-encapsulated cobalt single-atom catalysts for breaking activity-stability trade-off in Fenton-like reactions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Yinqiao Zhang & Mohan Chen & Xuanyu He & Erzhuo Zhao & Hao Liang & Jingge Shang & Kai Liu & Jianqiu Chen & Sijin Zuo & Minghua Zhou, 2025. "Intrinsic strain of defect sites steering chlorination reaction for water purification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Cancan Ling & Meiqi Li & Hao Li & Xiufan Liu & Furong Guo & Yi Liu & Rui Zhang & Jincai Zhao & Lizhi Zhang, 2025. "High-spin surface FeIV = O synthesis with molecular oxygen and pyrite for selective methane oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Qianqian Tang & Bangxiang Wu & Xiaowen Huang & Wei Ren & Lingling Liu & Lei Tian & Ying Chen & Long-Shuai Zhang & Qing Sun & Zhibing Kang & Tianyi Ma & Jian-Ping Zou, 2024. "Electron transfer mediated activation of periodate by contaminants to generate 1O2 by charge-confined single-atom catalyst," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Ming-Yan Lan & Yu-Hang Li & Chong-Chen Wang & Xin-Jie Li & Jiazhen Cao & Linghui Meng & Shuai Gao & Yuhui Ma & Haodong Ji & Mingyang Xing, 2024. "Multi-channel electron transfer induced by polyvanadate in metal-organic framework for boosted peroxymonosulfate activation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Qi Huang & Baokai Xia & Ming Li & Hongxin Guan & Markus Antonietti & Sheng Chen, 2024. "Single-zinc vacancy unlocks high-rate H2O2 electrosynthesis from mixed dioxygen beyond Le Chatelier principle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Deyou Yu & Licong Xu & Kaixing Fu & Xia Liu & Shanli Wang & Minghua Wu & Wangyang Lu & Chunyu Lv & Jinming Luo, 2024. "Electronic structure modulation of iron sites with fluorine coordination enables ultra-effective H2O2 activation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Xiang Gao & Zhichao Yang & Wen Zhang & Bingcai Pan, 2024. "Carbon redirection via tunable Fenton-like reactions under nanoconfinement toward sustainable water treatment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Changge Guan & Marcelo D. T. Torres & Sufen Li & Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, 2025. "Computational exploration of global venoms for antimicrobial discovery with Venomics artificial intelligence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Shengjie Wei & Wenjie Ma & Minmin Sun & Pan Xiang & Ziqi Tian & Lanqun Mao & Lizeng Gao & Yadong Li, 2024. "Atom-pair engineering of single-atom nanozyme for boosting peroxidase-like activity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Linjie Zhang & Haihui Hu & Chen Sun & Dongdong Xiao & Hsiao-Tsu Wang & Yi Xiao & Shuwen Zhao & Kuan Hung Chen & Wei-Xuan Lin & Yu-Cheng Shao & Xiuyun Wang & Chih-Wen Pao & Lili Han, 2024. "Bimetallic nanoalloys planted on super-hydrophilic carbon nanocages featuring tip-intensified hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    14. Roberto Olayo-Alarcon & Martin K. Amstalden & Annamaria Zannoni & Medina Bajramovic & Cynthia M. Sharma & Ana Rita Brochado & Mina Rezaei & Christian L. Müller, 2025. "Pre-trained molecular representations enable antimicrobial discovery," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    15. Ruijie Xie & Kaiheng Guo & Yong Li & Yingguang Zhang & Huanran Zhong & Dennis Y. C. Leung & Haibao Huang, 2024. "Harnessing air-water interface to generate interfacial ROS for ultrafast environmental remediation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    16. Junjun Pei & Jianbin Liu & Kaixing Fu & Yukui Fu & Kai Yin & Shenglian Luo & Deyou Yu & Mingyang Xing & Jinming Luo, 2025. "Non-metallic iodine single-atom catalysts with optimized electronic structures for efficient Fenton-like reactions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    17. Jing Xu & Kaiye Gu & Peifang Wang & Pengfei Cheng & Huinan Che & Chunmei Tang & Kan Zhang & Yanhui Ao, 2025. "Piezo-catalytic in-site H2O2 generation and activation across wide pH range to drive hydroxyl radical-mediated pollutant degradation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Yan Meng & Yu-Qin Liu & Chao Wang & Yang Si & Yun-Jie Wang & Wen-Qi Xia & Tian Liu & Xu Cao & Zhi-Yan Guo & Jie-Jie Chen & Wen-Wei Li, 2024. "Nanoconfinement steers nonradical pathway transition in single atom fenton-like catalysis for improving oxidant utilization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    19. Guangyuan Xu & Xingjie Peng & Chuanqiang Wu & Shibo Xi & Huixin Xiang & Lei Feng & Zhendong Liu & Yi Duan & Lijin Gan & Si Chen & Yuan Kong & Yanzhe Ma & Fujing Nie & Jie Zhao & Xiao Hai & Wei Wei & M, 2025. "Atomically precise Ni clusters inducing active NiN2 sites with uniform-large vacancies towards efficient CO2-to-CO conversion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    20. Zhi-Quan Zhang & Pi-Jun Duan & Chang-Wei Bai & Xin-Jia Chen & Jing Wang & Fei Chen, 2025. "Surface-hydroxylated single-atom catalyst with an isolated Co-O-Zn configuration achieves high selectivity in regulating active species," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62930-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.