Hydrogen bonding network in the electrical double layer mediates fast proton skipping to Get Rid of Fenton reaction pH dependence enables highly efficient alkaline water purification

A fundamental scientific quandary in environmental has always been the pH dependence in Fenton reaction, that is, the reaction kinetics decreases by approximately 1-3 orders of magnitude upon transitioning from an acidic to an alkaline state. Here, we discovered that protons significantly contribute to the Fenton reaction through an examination of the reaction's interfacial behavior characteristics. Proton transfer mediated by hydrogen bond network connectivity in the electric double layer is responsible for the pH dependence of Fenton reaction kinetics. On this basis, the surface potential of Fenton reaction catalyst was modified to optimize the distribution of H₂O in the electrical double layer, enhancing the connectivity of the interfacial hydrogen bond network and providing a fast channel for rapid proton transfer. The consecutive hydrogen bond network mediates rapid proton hopping, increasing the proton concentration in the Helmholtz layer, and consequently promoting the proton conductivity from 5.38×10^-7 S·cm^-2 to 4.35×10^-6 S·cm^-2 in alkaline conditions for Fenton reaction. Meanwhile, the kinetics reaction rate was improved 20 times, and the pH dependence was reduced from 70.9 % to 12.6 %. This discovery clarifies the key role of the interfacial hydrogen bond network and proton transfer in Fenton reaction kinetics pH dependence. It provides new theories and methods for achieving alkaline high Fenton reaction kinetics.