Rapid dechlorination of chlorophenols in aqueous solution by [Ni|Cu] microcell

► Rapid dechlorination of chlorophenols in aqueous solution can be achieved by [Ni|Cu] mixture. ► The decomposition rates of chlorophenols by [Ni|Cu] were decuple of that by [Fe|Ni], [Fe|Cu], [Zn|Cu], or [Sn|Cu]. ► Ni0 acts as an indirect reductant and catalyst in dechlorination reaction. ► The H* corridor mechanism from Ni to Cu is proposed based on hydrogen spillover.