Necklace-like hybrid nanofiber as an enhanced and recyclable intrinsic photocatalyst for tetracycline removal and hydrogen evolution. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Hongjie; Zhao, Jian; Piao, Hongwei; Huang, Qinglin; Hu, Jiaoneng; Xia, Yanling; Zhang, Meiling
• Is Part Of: Materials today communications. Volume 29(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Necklace-like fiber -- Nanophotocatalyst -- Pollutant removal -- Recyclable -- Hydrogen production; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102761
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-4928

Abstract

Abstract: Recycling of nanophotocatalyst in slurry system is still a challenge due to its powder form. Here, polyacrylonitrile with nanophotocatalyst (CdS, Cd@TiO2, and CdS@void@TiO2, respectively) and vanadyl acetylacetonate as a potential oxidant was electrospun into nanofiber membrane. After sintering and acidification, polypyrrole (PPy) was coated via V 5+ oxidation polymerization, and the necklace-like nanofiber photocatalyst (nanophotocatalyst@PPy NFs) was yielded. After calcination and PPy covering, nanophotocatalyst@PPy NFs with ternary heterojunctions have the narrow energy gap of ~1.6 eV and broad response in UV and visible light region. The maximum removal efficiency of the nanophotocatalyst@PPy NF can reach up to ~77% for tetracycline, and H2 evolution rate raises up to 654.7 μmol h −1 g −1 . With the protection of PPy covering, nanophotocatalyst@PPy NFs possess outstanding resistance to photocorrosion. As a recyclable fiber-form photocatalyst, our nanophotocatalyst@PPy NFs with commendable photocatalytic activity and stable performance as well as easy handling and recycling show great promise for environmental remediation. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: A necklace-like hybrid nanofiber membrane with nanophotocatalyst was fabricated. Tetracycline removal efficiency and H2 evolution rate to 654.7 μmol h −1 g −1 are appreciable. Possible mechanism of ternary heterojunction of the nanofibrous photocatalyst is proposed. Nanophotocatalyst@PPy nanofiber membrane exhibit good stability and recyclability.