Cu<sup>0</sup>-Functionalized, ZIF-8-Derived, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composites for Efficient Iodine Elimination in Solution
The development of copper-based materials with a high efficiency and low cost is desirable for use in iodine (I<sub>2</sub>) remediation. Herein, Cu<sup>0</sup>-nanoparticles-functionalized, ZIF-8 (Zeolite Imidazole Framework-8)-derived, nitrogen-doped carbon composites (Cu@Z...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/2/105 |
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| Summary: | The development of copper-based materials with a high efficiency and low cost is desirable for use in iodine (I<sub>2</sub>) remediation. Herein, Cu<sup>0</sup>-nanoparticles-functionalized, ZIF-8 (Zeolite Imidazole Framework-8)-derived, nitrogen-doped carbon composites (Cu@Zn-NC) were synthesized by ball milling and pyrolysis processes. The as-prepared composites were characterized using SEM, BET, XRD, XPS, and FT-IR analyses. The results showed that the morphology of ZIF-8 changed from a leaf-like structure into an irregular structure after the introduction of a copper salt and carbonization. The copper in the pyrolysis samples was mainly in the form of Cu<sup>0</sup> particles. The presence of an appropriate amount of Cu<sup>0</sup> particles could increase the specific surface area of Cu@Zn-NC. The subsequent batch adsorption results demonstrated that the as-fabricated composites showed high I<sub>2</sub> adsorption amounts (1204.9 mg/g) and relatively fast dynamics in an iodine–cyclohexane solution when the Cu content was 30% and the pyrolysis temperature was 600 °C, outperforming the other Cu-based materials. The isothermal adsorption followed both Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models, while the kinetics of I<sub>2</sub> adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The activation energy (<i>E</i><sub>α</sub>) of the adsorbent was determined to be 47.2 kJ/mol, according to the Arrhenius equation. According to the experimental and DFT analyses, I<sub>2</sub>-Zn interactions and I<sub>2</sub>-Cu<sup>0</sup> chemisorption jointly promoted the elimination of iodine. In general, this study provided an operative adsorbent for the highly effective capture of iodine in solution, which might be worth applying on a large scale. |
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| ISSN: | 2079-4991 |