Integrated reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole hybrid aerogels for simultaneous photocatalytic decontamination and water evaporation

Here we report an integrated reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole hybrid aerogel with highly efficient photodegradation performance and ultrahigh solar-powered water evaporation for simultaneous freshwater production and decontamination from complex wastewater. The nanohybrids were successfully fabricated by the combined hydrothermal reduction and freeze-drying process. The pi-pi interactions between two components not only prevent the stacking of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets to endow aerogels with abundant water transport channels and ideal mechanical stability, but also facilitate the interactions with organic molecules to realize high removal efficiency toward volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The wide-spectrum light harvesting, photothermal effect and solar-driven photocatalysis in the hybrid aerogel are beneficial for the synergistically enhanced thermal-assisted photodegradation toward VOC-contaminated water with a water evaporation rate of 2.08 kg m(-2) h(-1) and a phenol removal efficiency of 94.8%. Our findings may help the development of novel functional nanostructures for applications in environmental remediation and solar steam generation.

Automated summary

This study presents a reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole hybrid aerogel which exhibits efficient photodegradation performance and high solar-powered water evaporation for freshwater production and decontamination from complex wastewater. The nanohybrids were fabricated through hydrothermal reduction and freeze-drying, resulting in the prevention of stacking of graphene oxide nanosheets and enhanced interactions with organic molecules. The hybrid aerogel's wide-spectrum light harvesting, photothermal effect, and solar-driven photocatalysis contribute to synergistically enhanced thermal-assisted photodegradation, resulting in high removal efficiency of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and simultaneous water evaporation.