As-prepared Aerogels Research Articles

"Brick-Mortar-Binder" Design toward Highly Elastic, Hydrophobic, and Flame-Retardant Thermal Insulator.

Advanced aerogels hold immense potential in thermal insulation. However, achieving high environmental adaptability aerogel insulators with elasticity, hydrophobicity, flame-retardancy, and low temperature tolerance remains a significant challenge. Inspired by a "brick-mortar-binder" biomimetic texture, a layered double hydroxide/carboxylated cellulose nanofibers/Si-O-Si (LCS) hybrid aerogel is developed by bottom-up freeze-drying. Owing to the distinct building blocks and organized structure, as-prepared LCS hybrid aerogel exhibits impressive mechanical elasticity, cycling stability at an extremely low temperature (-196°C), hydrophobicity, and flame-retardancy (LOI = 44.6%, UL-94: V-0). Additionally, the incorporation of layered double hydroxide effectively improves the thermal insulation property (thermal conductivity = 0.0296 W·m-1·K-1). These distinctive features make the LCS hybrid aerogel highly promising for thermal management applications in extreme conditions, such as in pipelines for transporting liquid nitrogen and liquefied natural gas.

Amino-Functionalized Metal-Organic Framework-Mediated Cellulose Aerogels for Efficient Cr(VI) Reduction.

Industrialization activities have increased the discharge of wastewater that is polluted with hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), posing risks to ecosystems and humans. The photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) is viewed as a promising method for the removal of Cr(VI) species. However, developing photocatalysts with the desired catalytic activity, recyclability, and reusability remains a challenge. Herein, a composite aerogel was designed and fabricated with a Ti-based metal-organic framework (MIL-125-NH2) and carboxylated nanocellulose. MIL-125-NH2 presents a strong visible-light response, and the interactions between the amino groups of MIL-125-NH2 and the carboxyl groups of cellulose produce a strong interface affinity in the composites. The as-prepared aerogels exhibited a micro/macroporous structure. At an optimal MIL-125-NH2 loading of 55 wt%, the MC-5 sample showed a specific surface area of 582 m2·g-1. MC-5 achieved a photocatalytic Cr(VI) removal efficiency of 99.8%. Meanwhile, the aerogel-type photocatalysts demonstrated good stability and recycling ability, as MC-5 maintained a removal rate of 82% after 10 cycles. This work sheds light on the preparation of novel photocatalysts with three-dimensional structures for environmental remediation.

Effect of three distinctive crosslinking agents on the dielectric properties of as-prepared polyimide aerogels prepared from super-critical fluid technique

Effect of three distinctive crosslinking agents on the dielectric properties of as-prepared polyimide aerogels prepared from super-critical fluid technique

Robust and Density Tunable Kevlar/Hexagonal Boron Nitride Microribbon Aerogels with Excellent Thermal, Mechanical, and Oil-Absorption Properties.

With rapid advancements in aerospace and supersonic aircraft technology, there is a growing demand for multifunctional thermal protective materials. Aerogels, known for their low density and high porosity, have garnered significant attention in this regard. However, developing a lightweight multifunctional aerogel that combines exceptional thermal and mechanical properties through a straightforward and time-efficient method remains a significant challenge. Herein, a facile and universal approach is developed for the preparation of Kevlar/hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) aerogels, in which a spin-assisted method is applied to create robust microribbons and further accelerate solvent displacement. The resulting microribbon scaffold, with its entangled nanofiber-nanosheet morphologies, exhibits sufficient strength to prevent volume shrinkage during drying, thereby allowing precise control over aerogel density. The porous hybrid aerogels, featuring controllable geometric characteristics and tailored densities ranging from 6.9 to 100 mg cm-3, can be successfully fabricated. These aerogels exhibit excellent thermal insulation properties, and the thermal conductivities of the as-prepared KBX aerogels have a wide distribution in the range of 0.0269-0.0450 W m-1 k-1. The thermal stability of the hybrid aerogels is enhanced to 566 °C. Moreover, the resulting hybrid aerogels exhibit an ultrahigh bearing ratio, supporting more than 2000 times their own weight while maintaining stable structural integrity. These aerogels also demonstrate high compressive strength, hydrophobicity, and excellent sorption performance for various oils and solvents. Additionally, the oil-saturated aerogels can be easily recovered through heat treatment or combustion in air. The features endow hybrid Kevlar/h-BN aerogels with significant potential for applications in thermal management, environmental protection, and neutron protection.

Near-net-shape fabrication of SiC aerogels through in-situ carbonisation of Si

SiC aerogels are excellent porous materials with extensive application prospects. However, their ultra-low density and extremely low strength make them challenging to process. Near-net-shape fabrication is crucial to overcome the manufacturing difficulties of SiC aerogels with complex-shaped. In this work, we propose a novel method for preparing near-net-shape SiC aerogels through the in-situ carbonisation of Si, enabling the fabrication of aerogels with complex geometries. The as-prepared SiC aerogels consist of SiC nanowires (SiCnw) and SiC nanoparticles (SiCnp), which have ultra-low density, excellent thermal insulation, and robust high-temperature stability.

Superamphiphilic aerogels with 2D lamellar structure of gelatin-tuned 3D supramolecular network of collagen fibers for high-performance separation of surfactant-stabilized emulsified oily wastewater

Superwetting aerogel is a promising alternative for the remediation of emulsified oily wastewater for its high porosity combined with extreme wettability enabled high separation performances to emulsion wastewater. However, it remains challenging for superwetting aerogels to accomplish high-performance dual separation to surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions with high stability. Herein, an environmentally benign superamphiphilic composite aerogel was prepared by a green synthesis route that relied on the utilization of natural amphiphilic biomass. Collagen fibers (CFs) were utilized to construct the three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular skeleton of aerogel to provide high storage capacity of water/oil and outstanding capillary effect to boost the mass transfer. The two-dimensional (2D) lamellar structure of gelatin (Gel) was further grown on the skeleton of CFs aerogel to play the role for simultaneously enhanced demulsifying capability and spreading of emulsions. The as-prepared superamphiphilic aerogel enabled the separation of highly stable surfactant-stabilized O/W and W/O emulsions with high separation efficiency and flux. Excellent recycling performances and anti-fouling performance were also confirmed. Our investigations therefore demonstrated that the structural engineering of superamphiphilic aerogel is a promising way to realize high-performance dual separation of surfactant-stabilized O/W and W/O emulsion wastewater.Graphical

Engineering Bis-Pyridine N-Functionalized Cellulose Aerogel for Efficient Extraction of Cu2+ from High-Acidity Wastewaters: Coupling Molecular Scale Interpretation with Experiment.

In order to address the issue of protonation of functional groups and structural instability on the surface of aerogel due to strong acidic wastewater, a three-dimensional bis-pyridine N cellulose aerogel [PEIPD/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)] with protonation resistance was prepared in this paper by grafting pyridine onto polyethylenimine. The adsorption capacity for Cu2+ of the as-prepared aerogel is as high as 1.64 mmol/g (pH 5) and is maintained well in high-acidity solutions (1.15 mmol/g at pH = 2). It reveals high selectivity, splendid anti-interference ability, and also reliable on the recycle performance. Through the zeta potential tests, this adsorbent reveals a rather low zero charge point (pHpzc = 2.2). The adsorption of Cu2+ on the adsorbent is consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir model, suggesting that the adsorption process is dominated by chemisorption in a monolayer. The characterizations by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy proved pyridine N as responsible binding sites, based on which two possible mechanisms are proposed, including chelation and cation-π interaction. Density functional theory calculations are further used to precisely investigate the pathway. By comparing the binding energies, molecular electrostatic potentials, electron densities, and differential charge densities, the bis-pyridine N functional group is finally determined to be of much higher affinity to Cu2+ following chelation reaction as designated. By integrating bis-pyridine N with the CMC and understanding their crucial roles, this will provide significant insights into the rational design of aerogel adsorbents to enhance the recovery of Cu from strongly acidic wastewaters.

Superwetting PVA/cellulose aerogel with asymmetric structure for oil/water separation and solar-driven seawater desalination

Extracting clean water from oily wastewater and seawater is one of the effective strategies to alleviate the freshwater crisis. However, achieving both high separation efficiency and excellent salt resistance remain challenges for materials. Herein, a novel methyltrichlorosilane-modified polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose aerogel (MPCA) was prepared by freeze drying, chemical cross-linking, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. The superwetting MPCA presented an asymmetric structure, in which the small dense pores at the top surface facilitated the efficient separation of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions and the large pores on the bottom surface were beneficial for brine exchange. The as-prepared superwetting aerogel was suitable for the separation of various W/O emulsions with excellent separation flux (631.9–2368.7 L·m−2·h−1) and outstanding separation efficiency (99.5 %). In addition, MPCA achieved a high evaporation efficiency of 1.39 kg·m−2·h−1 and a satisfactory energy conversion efficiency of 89.7 %. Moreover, the unique asymmetric structure endowed the evaporator excellent salt resistance and could self-dissolve the accumulated salt in 20 min. The as-prepared MPCA could achieve efficient W/O emulsion separation as well as produce freshwater in seawater, providing a new strategy for oily waste seawater purification.

Double-Phase-Networking Polyimide Hybrid Aerogel with Exceptional Dimensional Stability for Superior Thermal Protection System.

Polyimide aerogels have been extensively used in thermal protection domain because they possess a combination of intrinsic characteristics of aerogels and unique features of polyimide. However, polyimide aerogels still suffer significant thermally induced shrinkage at temperatures above 200 °C, restricting their application at high temperature. Here, a novel "double-phase-networking" strategy is proposed for fabricating a lightweight and mechanically robust polyimide hybrid aerogel by forming silica-zirconia-phase networking skeletons, which possess exceptional dimensional stability in high-temperature environments and superior thermal insulation. The rational mechanism responsible for the formation of double-phase-networking aerogel is further explained, generally attributing to chemical crosslinking reactions and supramolecular hydrogen bond interactions derived from the main chains of polyimide and silane/zirconia precursor/sol. The as-prepared aerogels exhibit excellent high-temperature (270 °C) dimensional stability (5.09% ± 0.16%), anti-thermal-shock properties, and low thermal conductivity. Moreover, the hydrophobic treatment provides aerogels high water resistance with water contact angle of 136.9°, further suggestive of low moisture content of 3.6% after exposure to 70 °C and 85% relative humidity for 64h. The proposed solution for significantly enhancing high-temperature dimensional stability and thermal insulation provides a great supporting foundation for fabricating high-performance organic aerogels as thermal protection materials in aerospace.

Bio-Inspired Underwater Superoleophobic Aramid Nanofiber-Based Aerogel Membranes for Highly Efficient Removal of Emulsified Oils and Organic Dyes.

Effective elimination of insoluble emulsified oils and soluble organic dyes has received extensively attention in wastewater treatment. In this work, a chitosan and polydopamine @ aramid nanofibers (CS&PDA@ANFs) aerogel membrane was fabricated through an integration methodology consisting of phase inversion and successive deposition of PDA and CS. The as-prepared aerogel membrane possessed a satisfactory three-dimensional interpenetrating network architecture with high porosity and desirable mechanical property. Furthermore, due to the synergistic effect of hydrophilic CS and PDA, the resultant membrane exhibited good superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity associated with favorable oil resistance/antioil fouling properties. The combination of the interconnected porous structures and super wettability endowed the aerogel membranes with desirable oil-in-water emulsion separation performance. Particularly, an extremely high permeation flux (3729 L/m2/h) and a rejection rate (99.3%) were achieved for the CS&PDA@ANFs membrane. Moreover, diverse dyes could be also adsorbed by the resultant membrane, and the equilibrium adsorption capacity of cationic dye malachite green could reach 36 mg/g, with a high rejection rate over 97%. This study indicated that the CS&PDA@ANFs aerogel membrane held great promise for practical applications in complex wastewater remediation.

Nanocellulose-based cobalt(II) coordinated malonic acid hybrid aerogels exhibiting reversible thermochromism and moisture sensor properties

The emergence of sustainable polymers and technologies has led to the development of innovative materials with minimal carbon emissions which find extensive applications in wearable electronics, biomedical sensors, and Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring systems. Nanocellulose which can be generated from abundant biomass materials has been widely recognized as a sustainable alternative for a diverse range of applications due to its remarkable properties and eco-friendly nature. By making use of the unique and easily accessible coordination transformation property of Co(II) ions and associated visible light absorption changes, we report a novel Co(II) cation-incorporated nanocellulose/malonic acid hybrid aerogel material that exhibits reversible thermochromism induced by thermal stimulus in the presence of atmospheric moisture. This effect is accentuated by the highly porous nature of the nanocellulose aerogel material we have developed. Besides the reversible thermochromic property which Co(II) ions exhibit, the metal ions act as very efficient reinforcing units contributing significantly to the structural stability and rigidity of the hierarchical aerogels by coordinative cross-linking through carboxylate moieties present in the TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TCNF) and additionally adding malonic acid to provide sufficient COO− for cross-linking. Thorough characterization and detailed investigation of as-prepared hybrid aerogels was conducted to evaluate their overall properties including reversible thermochromism and moisture sensor behaviour. Further, an Android mobile-based application was developed to demonstrate the real-world application of the aerogels for atmospheric humidity sensing.

One stone, two birds: An eco-friendly aerogel based on waste pomelo peel cellulose for the efficient adsorption of dyes and heavy metal ions

To achieve the objective of “waste control by waste”, in this study, a green aerogel adsorbent comprised of pomelo-peel cellulose and sodium alginate (PCC/SA) was prepared through dual-network crosslinking. The resulting 3D hierarchical porous structured PCC/SA aerogel exhibited good structural stability, and kept the morphological integrity during 10 days in a wide pH range (2–10), suggesting its potential for recycling in diverse complex environments. Besides, the superior adsorption capacities for methylene blue (MB) and Cu(II) were observed, with the qm values and adsorption equilibrium times were recorded to be 1299.59 mg/g (300 min) and 287.55 mg/g (120 min), correspondingly. Furthermore, the favorable reusability of the PCC/SA aerogel was also demonstrated, with the removal efficiency for MB remaining almost unchanged (about 94 %) after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles, while there was a slight reduction for Cu(II) from 85.28 % to 72.47 %. XPS and FTIR analysis revealed that electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, cation exchange and coordination were the major adsorption mechanisms. Importantly, the PCC/SA aerogel can be naturally degraded in soil within 10 weeks. Therefore, the as-prepared aerogel bead derived from pomelo peel shows great promise as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment containing dye and heavy metal ions.

Cellulose aerogel beads and monoliths from CO2-based reversible ionic liquid solution

The CO2-based reversible ionic liquid solution of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) and ethylene glycol (EG) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) after capturing CO2, (2[TMGH]+[O2COCH2CH2OCO2]2−/DMSO (χRILs = 0.1), provides a sustainable and effective platform for cellulose dissolution and homogeneous utilization. Highly porous cellulose aerogel beads and monoliths were successfully prepared via a sol-gel process by extruding cellulose solution into different coagulation baths (NaOH aqueous solution or alcohols) and exposing the cellulose solution in open environment, respectively, and followed by different drying techniques, including supercritical CO2-drying, freeze-drying and air-drying. The effect of the coagulation baths and drying protocols on the multi-scale structure of the as-prepared cellulose aerogel beads and monoliths were studied in detail, and the sol-gel transition mechanism was also studied by the solvatochromic parameters determination. High specific surface area of 252 and 207 m2/g for aerogel beads and monoliths were achieved, respectively. The potential of cellulose aerogels in dye adsorption was demonstrated.

Facile preparation of cellulose nanofiber/ZSM-5 zeolite/polyethyleneimine aerogel for selective adsorption of Cu2+ in wastewater

The development of a cost-effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent is essential for effectively removing heavy metals from wastewater. This study presents the preparation of a recyclable cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/ZSM-5 zeolite/polyethyleneimine (PEI) aerogel through chemical crosslinking and freeze-drying techniques. The synthesized aerogel was applied for the highly selective adsorption of Cu2+. The characterization of the as-prepared aerogel indicates that its three-dimensional network porous structure, along with the abundance of active sites, contributes to the effective adsorption of Cu2+. The adsorption capacity was found to be 134.23 mg/g. Furthermore, it was observed that Cu2+ adsorbed by the composite aerogel could be efficiently eluted using 0.2 M EDTA-2Na. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies revealed consistency with the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir model, indicating that the adsorption process was primarily governed by monolayer chemisorption. Mechanism analysis further confirmed that surface complexation, ion exchange, and electrostatic interaction were the primary driving forces behind the excellent adsorption capabilities of the prepared aerogel. Remarkably, the structural integrity and selective adsorption of the composite aerogel remained largely unchanged even after undergoing five sorption-desorption cycles. These findings strongly suggest that the CNF/ZEM-5/PEI composite aerogel holds significant promise for achieving efficient and selective removal of copper ions in wastewater.

Sustainable chitosan derived 3D hierarchically porous carbon aerogel toward advanced infrared-radar compatibility

Simultaneously achieving infrared-radar compatibility in one material is an important challenge for multi-spectral compatible stealth technology. Chitosan-derived three-dimensional (3D) hierarchically porous carbon aerogel can effectively solve the problem. Inspired by floors-pillars concept, this work elaborately designed and successfully fabricated 3D skeletons consisted of two-dimensional (2D) sheets and one-dimensional (1D) struts. Benefiting from esterification and directional freeze drying method, the entire network could provide sufficient space for reducing thermal conductivity and motivating dipole polarization sites. Thanks to the facile calcination process, conductive components could be obtained, which guarantee low infrared (IR) emissivity and high conduction loss performance. In this work, the as-prepared carbon aerogel with ultra-low density of 0.005 g cm−3 exhibits superb infrared stealth property. It shows a low thermal conductivity coefficient of only 0.0933 W m−1 K−1. In addition, the heating rate of the upper surface is slow when placed on a heating platform of 60 °C. The relevant IR emissivity value is as low as 0.563 in 3–5 μm band and 0.432 in 8–14 μm band. Under relatively thin thicknesses, the prominent radar stealth performance including the optimum reflection loss value of −75.90 dB, the maximum effective bandwidth of 3.93 GHz, and the simulated radar cross section reduction value of 27.66 dB m2, can be obtained. This study not only introduces innovative design ideas but also offers technical approaches, facilitating further development in the realm of infrared-radar compatible stealth.

La-doped Al2O3/g-C3N4 /agarose aerogel for removal of As(III) via simultaneous photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption

Attributing to its ubiquitous nature, arsenic (As) is frequently detected in various waterbodies across the globe, at concentrations often exceeding the permissible limits. In view of the acute and chronic toxicity of the arsenite species (As(III)), it is highly recommended to remove As(III) from aqueous matrices. Herein, we propose a agarose-based La-doped Al2O3/g-C3N4 (LAC) aerogel as a novel adsorptive photocatalyst for removal of As(III) via the synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis. While g-C3N4 could transform As(III) to As(V) through photocatalytic oxidation, La-doped Al2O3 provided strong adsorption sites for the resulting As(V). Accordingly, the combination of adsorption and photocatalytic transformation of highly toxic As(III) into less toxic As(V), followed by subsequent adsorption of the latter can be considered as a promising technique to treat arsenic-contaminated water. The as-prepared aerogel was successfully characterized via a range of state-of-the-art microscopy, spectroscopy, and surface-specific analytical techniques. The optimized aerogel demonstrated a removal efficiency of 66.5% after 300 min of UV light irradiation. Furthermore, evaluating the effects of various reactive oxygen species via free-radical quenching experiments revealed that superoxide radicles (•O2−), singlet oxygen (1O2), and holes (h+) played a role key in the photocatalytic oxidation of As(III). More importantly, the LAC aerogel was structurally resilient and can be reused over multiple cycles, without any significant loss of the desired functionalities. Based on these deliberations, the integration of g-C3N4 with La-Al2O3 in the form of aerogel can be considered as a prospective strategy for the removal of arsenic from aqueous phase.

Novel multi-hierarchical nanofiber aerogel for high efficient filtration of high-temperature flue gas

Fibrous air filtration materials are highly effective at capturing particulate matter (PM) from emissions. Yet, many commercially available filters are difficult to achieve high filtration efficiency for PM while maintaining low filtration resistance. Furthermore, the elevated temperatures (ranging from 100.0 to 250.0 °C) commonly associated with pollution sources necessitate stringent thermal resistance requirements for filtration materials. Here, a new strategy for the preparation of aerogels for high-temperature gas filtration is reported. Firstly, a unique “grooved and secondary pore” structure polyaryl thioether sulfone (GPASS) nanofibers are initially fabricated using a combination of “wet” electrostatic spinning and aqueous etching. And then, the oxidized GPPASS aerogel (O-GPPASS) can be obtained through simple acid and freeze-dried treatment. It is found that the as-prepared aerogel exhibits high filtration efficiency of 99.7 % for PM0.3, accompanied by low pressure drop of 17.2 Pa, and high quality factor (QF) of 0.362 Pa−1. Remarkably, after enduring high-temperature conditions of 330.0 °C for 4.0 h, the O-GPPASS aerogel still maintains an impressive filtration performance, with a 99.6 % efficiency and a pressure drop of 17.6 Pa for PM0.3 particles. It will well meet the needs of filter materials used in high temperature environments. This innovation is poised to supersede traditional high-temperature air filtration materials, paving the way for sustainable advancements in industrial applications.

Graphene aerogels as efficient adsorbers of water pollutants and their effect of drying methods

Environmental accidents highlight the need for the development of efficient materials that can be employed to eliminate pollutants including crude oil and its derivatives, as well as toxic organic solvents. In recent years, a wide variety of advanced materials has been investigated to assist in the purification process of environmentally compromised regions, with the principal contestants being graphene-based structures. This study describes the synthesis of graphene aerogels with two methods and determines their efficiency as adsorbents of several water pollutants. The main difference between the two synthesis routes is the use of freeze-drying in the first case, and ambient pressure drying in the latter. Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurements are employed here for the characterisation of the samples. The as-prepared aerogels have been found to act as photocatalysts of aqueous dye solutions like methylene blue and Orange G, while they were also evaluated as adsorbents of organic solvents (acetone, ethanol and methanol), and, oils like pump oil, castor oil, silicone oil, as well. The results presented here show that the freeze-drying approach provides materials with better adsorption efficiency for the most of the examined pollutants, however, the energy and cost-saving advantages of ambient-pressure-drying could offset the adsorption advantages of the former case.

Controlling N-Doping Nature at Carbon Aerogels from Biomass for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction in Seawater Batteries.

Pyridinic N-type doped at carbon has been known to have better electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) than the others. Herein, we proposed to prepare pyridinic N doped at carbon aerogels (CaA) derived from biomass, i.e., coir fiber (CF) and palm empty fruit bunches (PEFBs), by adjusting the pyrolysis temperature during carbonization of the biomass-based-cellulose aerogels. The cellulose aerogels were prepared by the ammonia-urea system as the cellulose solvent, in which ammonia also acted as a N source for doping and urea as the cellulose cross-linker. The as-prepared cellulose aerogels were directly pyrolyzed to produce N-doped CaA. It was found that the type of N doping is dominated by pyrrolic N at pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C, pyridinic N at 700 °C, and graphitic N at 800 °C. The pyridinic N exhibited better performance as an electrocatalyst for the ORR than pyrrolic N and graphitic N. The ORR using pyridinic N follows the four-electron pathway, which quantitatively implies a more electrochemically stable process. When used as a cathode for the Mg-air battery using a 3.5% NaCl electrolyte, the pyridinic N CaA exhibited excellent performance by giving a cell voltage of approximately 1.1 V and delivered a high discharge capacity of 411.64 mA h g-1 for CF and 492.64 mA h g-1 for PEFB corresponding to an energy density of 464.23 and 529.49 mW h g-1, respectively.

Multi-crosslinked robust alginate/polyethyleneimine modified graphene aerogel for efficient organic dye removal

Polymer composite aerogel holds great promise for sewage treatment. Here, a novel triply crosslinked alginate/graphene aerogel for efficient organic dye removal was reported. The triple crosslinking of aerogel was realized firstly by the association between in-situ released Ca2+ ions and sodium alginate (SA). And the electrostatic attraction between polyethyleneimine-modified reduced graphene oxide (PEI-RGO) and the alginate chain provides an additional boost to crosslinking the aerogel. Moreover, the hydrogen bonding between PEI and SA also helps in achieving the crosslinking of the aerogel. Thus, the robust triply crosslinked alginate/graphene aerogel was obtained with using cost-effective precursors and a straightforward process. Additionally, the as-prepared aerogels were employed to remove the cationic dyes from wastewater. It was found that the porous alginate/graphene exhibited a strong affinity to methylene blue (MB) and neutral red (NR). The adsorption process of the aerogel towards MB was in accordance with the Langmuir isothermal model and pseudo-second-order model, and the maximum theoretical adsorption capacities were 1091.9 and 813.2 mg g−1, suggesting its potential application in sewage treatment.