Green synthesis of carbon nanotube–graphene hybrid aerogels and their use as versatile agents for water purification

Abstract

Carbon nanotube–graphene hybrid aerogels have been fabricated by supercritical CO2 drying of their hydrogel precursors obtained from heating the aqueous mixtures of graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes with Vitamin C without stirring. The resulting hybrid aerogels show very promising performance in water purification including capacitive deionization of light metal salts, removal of organic dyes and enrichment of heavy metal ions.