Abstract
The design and self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO)-based composite membranes have attracted enormous attention due to their wide application in nanomaterial and environmental fields. In this work, we have successfully developed a strategy to fabricate new composite membranes based on poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid)/carboxyl-functionalized graphene oxide modified with silver nanoparticles (PVA/PAA/GO-COOH@AgNPs), which were prepared via thermal treatment and the electrospinning technique. Due to the strong π-π forces and strong electrostatic interactions of GO–COOH sheets, the prepared composite membranes and their lager surface areas were modified by scores of AgNPs, which demonstrated that a high-efficiency photocatalyst removed the organic dyes from the aqueous solutions. The prepared PVA/PAA/GO-COOH@AgNPs nanocomposite membranes showed a remarkable photocatalytic capacity in the catalytic degradation of the methylene blue dye solutions. Most importantly, the whole process was easy, mild, and eco-friendly. Additionally, the as-prepared membranes could be repeatedly used after the catalytic reaction.
Highlights
In the past few years, with the rapid development of the economy, most factories have been eager to maximize profits at the expense of the environment
(PAA, molecular weight ~2000), and chloroacetic acid were provided by Aladdin Reagent (Shanghai, China) and Alfa Aesar Chemicals (Beijing, China)
Graphene oxide was synthesized from graphite powder (8000 mesh, 99.95%, Aladdin Reagent) by a modified Hummers method [38]
Summary
In the past few years, with the rapid development of the economy, most factories have been eager to maximize profits at the expense of the environment. Environmental pollution has drawn public attention because pollution has generated fear for human health and future generations’. Ability to live on this planet [1,2] This is especially true for water pollution, which is mostly attributable to organic dyes released by chemical plants [3,4]. Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water is used as a new wastewater treatment technology, and has become a research hotspot in the wastewater treatment field [7,8]. The current research of photocatalytic technology is mainly concentrated on conventional semiconductor photocatalysts, especially TiO2 based materials [7]. Finding the catalyst that can respond to visible light, Nanomaterials 2018, 8, 35; doi:10.3390/nano8010035 www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials
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