Removal of heavy metal ions in water is of great significance to public health, but thin films based on two-dimensional materials usually require pressure to drive. Recently, the research group of Xu Yijun, a professor of Fuzhou University, reported a dual control strategy for the microstructure and surface properties of two-dimensional titanium carbide-based thin films, which achieved the effective removal of multiple heavy metal ions in water bodies under the condition of no pressure driving . Related papers were published in "Nature-Sustainability" on September 9.
At present, worldwide water shortages and water pollution problems are becoming increasingly prominent, and water purification is recognized as one of the effective ways to solve the problem of water scarcity. The heavy metal ion contaminants in water have the characteristics of strong toxicity, high mobility and non-biodegradation. How to remove heavy metal ions in water has become an important issue of global concern. The two-dimensional material-based thin film has broad application prospects in removing heavy metal ions in water due to its advantages such as high specific surface area and abundant surface functional groups. However, because two-dimensional materials are easily stacked in the process of forming a thin film, and eventually form a dense structure with high density, the resulting membrane material is usually a pressure-driven filtration membrane in water purification applications. In addition, two-dimensional membrane materials can only selectively adsorb specific heavy metal ions. Under the condition of no pressure driving, the removal of multiple heavy metal ions on a two-dimensional material-based thin film is a challenging topic.
Xu Yijun's research team introduced reduced graphene oxide during the assembly of the two-dimensional titanium carbide film to intercalate its nanosheets to prevent stacking, thereby significantly increasing the contact area of ​​the film material with heavy metal ions in the water. On this basis, the researchers further surface hydroxylated the two-dimensional titanium carbide-based film, which can not only effectively improve its water wettability, but also enhance the adsorption and reduction of heavy metal ions.
Under the synergistic effect of optimized microstructure and surface properties, the two-dimensional titanium carbide-based thin film has a significant removal effect on various heavy metal cations and heavy metal anions in water. In addition, the recovered two-dimensional titanium carbide-based thin film can be regenerated for recycling.
Experts said that the study opened up a possible new way for the rational use of two-dimensional material-based thin films to realize their application in water purification. (Reporter Tang Feng)
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