Electrostatic induction promotes photocatalytic contaminant mineralization in saline wastewater

To suppress the undesired reaction of hydroxyl radicals with Cl-, we here aggregate contaminant molecules near a photocatalyst to promote target collision by strengthening electrostatic interaction. This strategy realized by electronic doping can also promote the hydrolysis of hydrated cations to facilitate electron transfer to the solution. These merits synergistically improve the photocatalytic mineralization of recalcitrant contaminants in saline wastewater. Electronic doping can strengthen electrostatic interaction to aggregate contaminants and induce the hydrolysis of hydrated cations which synergistically facilitates photocatalytic mineralization.