In situ organic Fenton-like catalysis triggered by anodic polymeric intermediates for electrochemical water purification

Significance Organic Fenton catalysis is one promising water purification process, but it needs ex situ added organic activators and suffers from secondary pollution. Herein, we develop in situ organic Fenton-like catalysis free of secondary pollution by utilizing the redox-active polymeric intermediates generated from electrochemical pollutant degradation. We elucidate its mechanisms with electrochemical, photochemical, and spectrographic approaches. H 2 O 2 activation mediated by nonhalogenated aromatic compounds can be regulated from nonradical to radical pathway by anodic potential to refine the catalytic properties in the organic Fenton-like catalysis. This work demonstrates the great potential of in situ organic Fenton-like reaction in green catalysis and provides a conceptual advance to design clean, robust, and cost-effective catalytic systems for water purification.