Reduced Graphene Oxide-Based Silver Nanoparticle-Containing Composite Hydrogel as Highly Efficient Dye Catalysts for Wastewater Treatment.

Tifeng Jiao,Yongfu Tang,Haiying Guo,Bingbing Li,Qingrui Zhang,Xuehai Yan,Qiuming Peng

doi:10.1038/srep11873

Abstract

New reduced graphene oxide-based silver nanoparticle-containing composite hydrogels were successfully prepared in situ through the simultaneous reduction of GO and noble metal precursors within the GO gel matrix. The as-formed hydrogels are composed of a network structure of cross-linked nanosheets. The reported method is based on the in situ co-reduction of GO and silver acetate within the hydrogel matrix to form RGO-based composite gel. The stabilization of silver nanoparticles was also achieved simultaneously within the gel composite system. The as-formed silver nanoparticles were found to be homogeneously and uniformly dispersed on the surface of the RGO nanosheets within the composite gel. More importantly, this RGO-based silver nanoparticle-containing composite hydrogel matrix acts as a potential catalyst for removing organic dye pollutants from an aqueous environment. Interestingly, the as-prepared catalytic composite matrix structure can be conveniently separated from an aqueous environment after the reaction, suggesting the potentially large-scale applications of the reduced graphene oxide-based nanoparticle-containing composite hydrogels for organic dye removal and wastewater treatment.

Highlights

In recent years, harmful chemical compounds have become the main cause of water pollution
We demonstrate the formation GO-based hydrogels in the presence of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and the in situ formation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) based silver nanoparticles-containing composite hydrogel using an in situ reduction approach
The reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-based hydrogel was obtained by the in situ reduction of GO using vitamin C in the presence of heat (90 °C)

Summary

Composite Hydrogel as Highly Efficient Dye Catalysts for Wastewater Treatment

Tifeng Jiao[1,2,3,4], Haiying Guo[2], Qingrui Zhang[2], Qiuming Peng[1], Yongfu Tang[2], Xuehai Yan3 & Bingbing Li4. The as-formed silver nanoparticles were found to be homogeneously and uniformly dispersed on the surface of the RGO nanosheets within the composite gel This RGO-based silver nanoparticlecontaining composite hydrogel matrix acts as a potential catalyst for removing organic dye pollutants from an aqueous environment. The as-prepared catalytic composite matrix structure can be conveniently separated from an aqueous environment after the reaction, suggesting the potentially large-scale applications of the reduced graphene oxide-based nanoparticle-containing composite hydrogels for organic dye removal and wastewater treatment. The as-prepared silver nanoparticles homogeneously and uniformly modified the surface of the RGO nanosheets and the organized nanocomposite structures were successfully achieved This composite hydrogel matrix can be utilized as highly efficient catalyst for wastewater treatment

Results and Discussion

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Methods

Author Contributions

Additional Information