Options
Photothermal halloysite nanotube hybrids with CoO/carbon layers for enhanced pollutant degradation and solar-powered water purification
Citation
Zhang, Y., Zhao, H., Zhou, J., Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., Shen, J., Shang, D., Zeng, F., Pan, J., Song, Y., Yang, F., & Ang, E. H. (2025). Photothermal halloysite nanotube hybrids with CoO/carbon layers for enhanced pollutant degradation and solar-powered water purification. Desalination, 602, Article 118630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2025.118630
Author
Zhang, Yifang
•
Zhao, Hongyao
•
Zhou, Jiayi
•
Wang, Yanyun
•
Zhang, Yangping
•
Shen, Jialing
•
Shang, Danhong
•
Zeng, Feng
•
Pan, Jianming
•
Song, Yiyan
•
Yang, Fu
•
Abstract
Advanced environmental governance techniques using photothermal nanomaterials for pollutant removal and water recycling are highly regarded. Here, we incorporated CoO nanospecies onto halloysite nanotubes via in-situ polymerization of tannic acid coordinated with Co ions and carbonization. The resulting halloysite nanotube hybrids with CoO/carbon layer (HNTs@CoO/C) afford great exposure of CoO nanospecies onto the N-doping carbon layer modified halloysite. Compared to composites without a carbon layer, optimized Co(II)/Co(III) redox cycles are achieved. More pyridine nitrogen species on the carbon layer enhance the catalyst's surface affinity for polar contaminants. HNTs@CoO/C has nearly 8.6 fold higher catalytic degradation efficiency for norfloxacin (0.164 min−1 versus 0.019 min−1 for HNTs@CoO). Quenching experiments show that co-existing multiple active species (radical dotSO₄−, radical dotOH, radical dotO₂−, and 1O₂) play important roles in norfloxacin (NFX) degradation, among which 1O₂ is dominant. The optimal HNTs@CoO/C also effectively removes other contaminants like sulfadiazine (SDZ), tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and carbamazepine (CBZ). Moreover, anchoring HNTs@CoO/C on a used cotton towel forms a 2D evaporator. Under the simulated sunlight, it has a good photothermal conversion ability, heating from 19.9 °C to 40.3 °C in 8 min. As a floatable system, it efficiently evaporates water and degrades contaminants in the presence of PMS. These results indicate the potential of this approach for water treatment and resource utilization.
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Desalination
Project
RP 5/23 EAH
Grant ID
21908085
BK20241950
2023M731422
SKL-MCE-23B
202441204
ZKYY2341
(2024) 210
KYCX24_4162
Funding Agency
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
Open project of State Key Laboratory of Materials Chemical Engineering
Hubei Key Laboratory of Processing and Application of Catalytic Materials
Science, Technology Plan School-Enterprise Cooperation Industry-University-Research Forward-looking Project of ZhangjiaGang
Suzhou Gusu Health Talent Program-Youth Top Talent
Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province
Ministry of Education, Singapore