Utilizing cellulose sheets as structure promoter constructing different micro-nano titanate nanotubes networks for green water purification

In this work, we provide a novel strategy of constructing different micro-nano structure (arrayed, multilevel, flower-like) titanate nanotubes (TNTs) networks with cellulose sheets as structure promoter. Through cellulose self-locking and inter-locking, several micro-nano TNTs networks with higher specific surface area are obtained and applied to toxic heavy metal Pb2+ cations removal. It not only makes abundant toxic Pb2+ ions exchange with the inter-layer Na+ ions of TNTs, but also allows many Pb2+ ions to be deposited onto the TNTs surface. As expected, heavy metal Pb2+ removal performance of the as-prepared TNTs networks miraculously reaches 5.24 mmol g(-1). Moreover, the prepared titanate network is also exhibited a good co-removal capacity of multicomponent ions (Pb2+, Sr2+ and Cs+) and superior acid/alkali adaptability. Therefore, the as-fabricated TNTs network with cellulose sheets as structure promoter could be regarded as a promising water purifier.