Carbon Co-Self-Assembled Cathode Boosted Antibiotic Degradation in the Electro-Fenton Process

Designing a stable and efficient electrode material is essential for the scalability of electro-Fenton (e-Fenton) processes for the degradation of persistent pollutants in wastewater. Here, we designed a carbon nanotube and graphene oxide (CNTs/GO) co-self-assembled electrode without a polymer binder as a cathode for levofloxacin (LFX) degradation in the e-Fenton system. The CNTs/GO complex was formed through π–π interactions between CNTs and GO and co-self-assembled on a nickel foam (Ni foam) substrate through chemical bonding between the CNTs/GO complex and the Ni foam substrate. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms reveal the improved crystallinity, oxygen atom defects, and high mesoporosity of the synthesized CNTs/GO electrode, providing more surface area, catalytic sites, and electron transfer channel for H2O2 electrosynthesis and Fe2+ regeneration. The CNTs/GO e-Fenton system exhibited a high reaction rate constant of 0.56 min–1 for ≈100% LFX degradation within 15 min. Furthermore, the CNTs/GO cathode exhibited an outstanding performance in real wastewater matrices, highlighting its scalability and effectiveness as a sustainable solution for addressing persistent organic pollutants in wastewater.