Enhanced Piezocatalytic Reactive Oxygen Species Production Activity and Recyclability of the Dual Piezoelectric Cu3B2O6/PVDF Composite Membrane

Piezocatalysts have attracted considerable attention due to their ability to convert natural mechanical energy into chemical energy. However, the inefficient chemical reactions of the free charges and the poor mechanical endurance of the powder piezoelectric materials have largely restricted their wide applica-tion. Here, by combining piezocatalyst Cu3B2O6 (CBO) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a composite membrane CBO/ PVDF with superior stability and excellent piezo-performance is prepared for the first time. This composite membrane shows a high efficiency for the degradation of antibiotics and organic dyes under ultrasonication; particularly, the removal efficiency is 33.9 times higher than that of a pure PVDF membrane for amoxicillin degradation, and it maintains a high efficiency after 16 cycling tests. The polarization electric field in the dual piezoelectric composite membrane significantly enhances the redox reaction of the intrinsic free carrier with dissolved oxygen and water molecules to generate reactive oxygen species. The results provide a strategy for combining the borate with the polymer membrane to lead piezocatalysis to real future applications.

Automated summary

By combining piezocatalyst Cu3B2O6 (CBO) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a composite membrane CBO/PVDF with superior stability and excellent piezo-performance is prepared. This composite membrane shows a high efficiency for the degradation of antibiotics and organic dyes under ultrasonication, with the removal efficiency being 33.9 times higher than that of a pure PVDF membrane for amoxicillin degradation. The polarization electric field in the dual piezoelectric composite membrane significantly enhances the redox reaction to generate reactive oxygen species.