MOF-Like 3D Graphene-Based Catalytic Membrane Fabricated by One-Step Laser Scribing for Robust Water Purification and Green Energy Production

Increasing both clean water and green energy demands for survival and development are the grand challenges of our age. Here, we successfully fabricate a novel multifunctional 3D graphene-based catalytic membrane (3D-GCM) with active metal nanoparticles (AMNs) loading for simultaneously obtaining the water purification and clean energy generation, via a green one-step laser scribing technology. The as-prepared 3D-GCM shows high porosity and uniform distribution with AMNs, which exhibits high permeated fluxes (over 100 L m(-2) h(-1)) and versatile super-adsorption capacities for the removal of tricky organic pollutants from wastewater under ultra-low pressure-driving (0.1 bar). After adsorption saturating, the AMNs in 3D-GCM actuates the advanced oxidization process to self-clean the fouled membrane via the catalysis, and restores the adsorption capacity well for the next time membrane separation. Most importantly, the 3D-GCM with the welding of laser scribing overcomes the lateral shear force damaging during the long-term separation. Moreover, the 3D-GCM could emit plentiful of hot electrons from AMNs under light irradiation, realizing the membrane catalytic hydrolysis reactions for hydrogen energy generation. This green precision manufacturing with laser scribing technology provides a feasible technology to fabricate high-efficient and robust 3D-GCM microreactor in the tricky wastewater purification and sustainable clean energy production as well.

Automated summary

This study successfully developed a novel multifunctional 3D graphene-based catalytic membrane for simultaneous water purification and clean energy generation. Green laser scribing technology was used for efficient fabrication. The fabricated membrane exhibited high flux and versatile super-adsorption capacities, with the ability to self-clean and restore adsorption capacity for long-term use.