3D-printed MOF/MoS₂ aerogel for dye adsorption and photocatalytic degradation

Author(s)

Alves, Ana Laura M. M. ; dos Santos, Francisco V. ; Correa, Daniel S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY; v. 40, p. 13-pg., 2024-08-17.

Abstract

The escalating challenge of water resources contamination, attributed to toxic pollutants, requires urgent attention from both governments and society. Furthermore, the inefficacy of conventional water treatment methods emphasizes the critical necessity for exploring the development of affordable, renewable, and high-performance materials, which should, for instance, enable the mutual adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Here we employed the 3D printing technique to manufacture an aerogel based on alginate, gelatin, and carboxymethylcellulose incorporated with 5 and 7.5 wt % of MOF/MoS2. FTIR spectra and EDS analysis evidenced the presence of MOF/MoS2 in the structure of the aerogels, while Helium pycnometer analysis and SEM micrographs demonstrated that the aerogels presented low density and a porous structure with porosity above 80 %. The swelling test showed that the aerogels displayed a high water absorption capacity (1400 %) after 70 h of immersion. The rheology test demonstrated that elastic behavior prevails over viscous behavior (G' > G '') and the incorporation of 7.5 wt % MOF/MoS2 favored shear thinning and viscosity recovery in the hydrogel. Adsorption tests to methylene blue (employed as a model) showed that the aerogel (HD) without the presence of MOF/MoS2 and the aerogels HD/MOF/MoS2 5 % and MOF/MoS2 7.5 % showed removal efficiencies of 16.77 %, 28.66 %, and 95.86 %, respectively. Conversely, the photodegradation test showed that HD/MOF/MoS2 5 % and HD/MOF/MoS2 7.5 % had an efficiency of 89 % and HD of 80 %. Therefore, our results demonstrate that the developed aerogels are promising candidates for the adsorption and photodegradation of dye while being low-cost, environmentally friendly, and easy to manufacture. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/22214-6 - Towards a convergence of technologies: from sensing and biosensing to information visualization and machine learning for data analysis in clinical diagnosis
• Grantee: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/01567-6 - Conductive composite microneedles manufactured by 3D printing and applications in wearable biosensors
• Grantee: Daniel Souza Corrêa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants