Copper sulfide (CuS) has received increasing attention as a promising material in gaseous elemental mercury (Hg⁰) capture, yet how to enhance its activity at elevated temperature remains a great challenge for practical application. Herein, simultaneous improvement in the activity and thermal stability of CuS toward Hg⁰ capture was successfully achieved for the first time by controlling the crystal growth. CuS with a moderate crystallinity degree of 68.8% showed a disordered structure yet high thermal stability up to 180 °C. Such disordered CuS can maintain its Hg⁰ capture activity stable during longtime test at a wide temperature range from 60 to 180 °C and displayed strong resistance to SO₂ (6%) and H₂O (8%). The significant improvement can be attributed to the synergistic effect of a moderately crystalline nature and a unique sulfur-rich interface. Moderate crystallinity guarantees the thermal stability of CuS and the presence of abundant defects, in which copper vacancy enhances significantly the Hg⁰ capture activity. The sulfur-rich interface enables CuS to provide plentiful highly active S_x^2– sites for Hg⁰ adsorption. The interrelation between structure, reactivity, and thermal stability clarified in this work broadens the understanding toward Hg⁰ oxidation and adsorption over CuS and provides new insights into the rational design and engineering of advanced environmental materials.

中文翻译：

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用于高性能气态元素汞捕获的具有富硫界面的可控无序硫化铜

^{硫化铜（CuS）作为一种很有前途的气态元素汞（Hg 0} ）捕集材料受到越来越多的关注，但如何提高其在高温下的活性仍然是实际应用的一大挑战。在此，通过控制晶体生长，首次成功地同时提高了CuS对Hg ^{0捕获的活性和热稳定性。}中等结晶度为 68.8% 的 CuS 表现出无序结构，但在高达 180 °C 时具有高热稳定性。这种无序的CuS在60～180℃的宽温度范围内长时间测试中能够保持其Hg ^{0捕获活性稳定，并对SO} ₂ (6%)和H _{2表现出很强的抵抗力。}O (8%)。显着改善可归因于适度结晶性质和独特的富硫界面的协同效应。适度的结晶度保证了CuS的热稳定性和大量缺陷的存在，其中铜空位显着增强了Hg ⁰捕获活性。富含硫的界面使 CuS 能够为 Hg ⁰吸附提供大量高活性的 S _x ^{2–位点。}这项工作阐明的结构、反应性和热稳定性之间的相互关系拓宽了对 CuS 上 Hg ⁰氧化和吸附的理解，并为先进环境材料的合理设计和工程提供了新的见解。