Nanostructure-controlled Cu-doped MnO2 for ozone synergistic catalytic disinfection

The development of efficient disinfection techniques that can persistently eradicate viruses or disrupt their transmission is of paramount significance for curbing the spread of pandemics. Existing disinfection techniques commonly suffer from secondary pollution and difficulty in achieving continuous disinfection while ensuring safety and effectiveness, particularly in crowded environments. In this study, we adopted ozone synergistic catalytic oxidation (OSCO) technology for the highly efficient disinfection of bacteria and viruses. The OSCO route is based on the catalytic decomposition of ozone into active radicals in the presence of an optimized rod-like Cu/MnO2 catalyst. The high catalytic activity of the Cu-doped MnO2 catalyst can be attributed to the presence of numerous oxygen vacancies, which facilitate the catalytic decomposition of ozone into active radicals. This method serves multiple purposes, including the eradication of bacteria and viruses as well as the prompt decomposition of ozone to prevent any potential leakage. A disinfection rate of 99.9 % for both Staphylococcus albicans and H1N1 viruses was achieved within 20 min. The catalyst also demonstrated exceptional efficiency in degrading residual ozone, achieving a high removal rate of 99.99 % within 25 min, thus assuring safe disinfection. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further supported that Cu doping induced lattice defects in MnO2, promoting the formation of interfacial oxygen vacancies and in turn favoring the catalytic oxidation process. The current OSCO technology offers a highly efficient and secure disinfection method with a wide range of potential applications in various fields.