Epoxy SQ-based amine functionalized superhydrophilic hybrid network for Ag+ adsorption and catalytic degradation of Rhodamine B

Abstract

Most epoxy substituted silsesquioxane (SQ)-based materials are hydrophobic, it is of great interest to develop hydrophilic epoxy SQ-based materials for special applications. In this work, epoxy functionalized SQ with T10 (G-SQ) as main product was obtained by the hydrolytic condensation of 3-(glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane; then the hybrid network of G-SQ-TAEA was produced by the amine-epoxy click reaction of G-SQ with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TAEA). The introduction of hydroxyl groups and the amine groups by the amine-epoxy click reaction greatly enhances the hydrophilicity of the hybrid network and facilitates the dispersion of G-SQ-TAEA in water. Interestingly, G-SQ-TAEA can adsorb Ag+ ions with a saturation capacity of 86.4 mg/g and the Ag-loaded G-SQ-TAEA (G-SQ-TAEA-Ag) can efficiently catalyze degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) to colourless. This work offers a new strategy for removing contamination in water.