Recyclable Visible Light-Driven O-g-C₃N₄/Graphene Oxide/N-Carbon Nanotube Membrane for Efficient Removal of Organic Pollutants

Abstract

Organic pollutants are harmful to human health, which creates a global need for the development of novel and effective materials for efficiently removing contaminants. Accordingly, an efficient visible light-driven heterostructured membrane combined with oxygen-modified monolayer g-C 3 N 4 , graphene oxide, and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (O-g-C 3 N 4 /GO/N-CNT) was successfully fabricated through electrostatic interactions and subsequent vacuum filtration. The results suggested that the O-g-C 3 N 4 /GO/N-CNT membrane exhibited higher degradation rate than those of O-g-C 3 N 4 /GO and pure O-g-C 3 N 4 under visible light exposure. This enhanced photocatalytic performance was attributed to the introduction of GO and N-CNT, which acted as electronic acceptors for monolayer O-g-C 3 N 4 that effectively inhibited recombination of photogenerated electron−hole pairs, thus enhancing visible light photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the enrichment and degradation rates of O-g-C 3 N 4 /GO/N-CNT membranes were demonstrated for tetracycline hydrochloride, which were found to be 96.64 and 94.30%, respectively, and no distinct enrichment or catalytic activity reduction was observed when their reusability was measured. These results suggested that these recyclable O-g-C 3 N 4 / GO/N-CNT membranes provide a new strategy for the highly efficient removal of environmental pollutants.

A comprehensive review on the environmental applications of graphene–carbon nanotube hybrids: recent progress, challenges and prospects

“…Moreover, the hybrid exhibited excellent decolourization through three successive catalytic wet peroxide oxidations within 30 min. (174). GO and nitrogen doped CNT acted as electronic acceptors and inhibited recombination of electron-hole pairs (Fig.…”

Interfaces of graphitic carbon nitride-based composite photocatalysts

“…22c indicates a threephase "Type γ" interfacial combination made up of oxygenmodified g-C 3 N 4 (O-g-C 3 N 4 ), graphene oxide (GO) and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNT), which was designed and developed for facilitating the transfer and separation of photogenerated charge carriers and inhibiting the recombination of electron-hole pairs, so the pollutants could be effectively eliminated. 218 A ternary Au-TiO 2 -g-C 3 N 4 composite system (Fig. 22d) was fabricated by Valérie Keller et al, 63 which corresponded to the "Type β" interfacial combination.…”

A Sm-MOF/GO nanocomposite membrane for efficient organic dye removal from wastewater

“…In recent decades, the membrane separation technology has been proven to be a promising approach to address the issue of environmental contaminants. [8][9][10] Compared to the traditional separation technology, membrane separation is more energy saving, easier to operate, and does not produce secondary pollution during the efficient separation of pollutant emissions; thus, it has great potential in the separation of water contaminants and water purication. [11][12][13] As a two-dimensional nanomaterial researched widely in membrane separation, graphene oxide (GO) has been considered a strong competitor for liquid separation owing to its monoatomic thickness, lamellar structure, good membraneforming ability, excellent mechanical strength and exibility, and easy mass production characteristics.…”