In situ hydrothermal synthesis of α-MnO2 nanowire/activated carbon hollow fibers from cotton stalk composite: dual-effect cyclic visible light photocatalysis performance

Abstract

MnO2 nanowire/carbon hollow fibers (ACHF) derived from cotton stalks composite (MnO2@ACHF) were synthesized by in situ hydrothermal methods. In this process, the morphology of MnO2 could be controlled from particles with an initial width of approximately 50 nm to α-MnO2 nanowires and flower-sphere-like α-MnO2 nanowires by adjusting the mass ratio of potassium permanganate and ACHF. Acting as photocatalytic materials, MnO2@ACHF exhibited excellent dual-effect cyclic absorption and degradation performance with a degradation rate of 99.8% after 240 min in the degradation of organic pollutants (methylene blue as the simulation solution). Furthermore, the photocatalytic characteristics of the prepared composites could enhance the efficiency and circulation of the photocatalysts, which resulted from the synergetic effect of the hierarchical porous ACHF carrier and the layered structure of α-MnO2. Meanwhile, a new method for removing the influence of adsorption on photocatalytic degradation was proposed.