Toward Filtration-free Contact-electro-catalysis: A robust and recyclable electrospun SiO2-PVDF Nanofibrous mat for decolorization of organic dyes

초록

Contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) utilizing liquid-solid contact electrification (LS-CE) has demonstrated significant potential for degrading organic pollutants without external electrical bias. While particle-based dielectric materials have shown high catalytic activity, their practical application often necessitates additional post-treatment filtration to recover the catalysts and ensure treated water quality. To streamline this process and enhance operational usability, we developed a filtration-free electrospun SiO2-PVDF nanofibrous mat (NF-mat). By immobilizing the active SiO2 and PVDF components within a robust fibrous matrix, this approach effectively circumvents the need for complex recovery steps. Under ultrasonic excitation, the NF-mat provides a hierarchically porous architecture with a high specific surface area (41.6m & sup2;/g), creating an optimal environment for liquid-solid electron transfer and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation. Consequently, the NF-mat achieved efficient decolorization of both cationic methylene blue (MB, 99.5% within 4h) and anionic methyl orange (MO, 98.1% within 8h). Although MB removal involved a concurrent adsorption contribution, adsorption alone could not account for the near-complete decolorization, and the removal of both MB and MO was predominantly governed by CEC. Furthermore, the mat exhibited excellent mechanical stability and recyclability over multiple cycles without structural disintegration. This study proposes a user-friendly and sustainable platform for CEC-based water treatment, offering a viable solution for continuous environmental remediation.

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