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: Jiuyu Chen, Chensheng Gao, Jingwen Chen, Fei Liu, Zhiwen Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/2/105
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author Jiuyu Chen
Chensheng Gao
Jingwen Chen
Fei Liu
Zhiwen Liu
author_facet Jiuyu Chen
Chensheng Gao
Jingwen Chen
Fei Liu
Zhiwen Liu
author_sort Jiuyu Chen
collection DOAJ
description 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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institution Kabale University
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series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-69f50b3916c94a59984c6fb1ba8a5e652025-01-24T13:44:09ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-01-0115210510.3390/nano15020105Cu<sup>0</sup>-Functionalized, ZIF-8-Derived, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composites for Efficient Iodine Elimination in SolutionJiuyu Chen0Chensheng Gao1Jingwen Chen2Fei Liu3Zhiwen Liu4School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, ChinaSchool of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, ChinaKey Laboratory for Protected Agricultural Engineering in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River, Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, ChinaSchool of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, ChinaThe 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/2/105ZIF-8Cu<sup>0</sup> nanoparticlesiodineadsorptionDFT studies
spellingShingle Jiuyu Chen
Chensheng Gao
Jingwen Chen
Fei Liu
Zhiwen Liu
Cu<sup>0</sup>-Functionalized, ZIF-8-Derived, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composites for Efficient Iodine Elimination in Solution
Nanomaterials
ZIF-8
Cu<sup>0</sup> nanoparticles
iodine
adsorption
DFT studies
title Cu<sup>0</sup>-Functionalized, ZIF-8-Derived, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composites for Efficient Iodine Elimination in Solution
title_full Cu<sup>0</sup>-Functionalized, ZIF-8-Derived, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composites for Efficient Iodine Elimination in Solution
title_fullStr Cu<sup>0</sup>-Functionalized, ZIF-8-Derived, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composites for Efficient Iodine Elimination in Solution
title_full_unstemmed Cu<sup>0</sup>-Functionalized, ZIF-8-Derived, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composites for Efficient Iodine Elimination in Solution
title_short Cu<sup>0</sup>-Functionalized, ZIF-8-Derived, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composites for Efficient Iodine Elimination in Solution
title_sort cu sup 0 sup functionalized zif 8 derived nitrogen doped carbon composites for efficient iodine elimination in solution
topic ZIF-8
Cu<sup>0</sup> nanoparticles
iodine
adsorption
DFT studies
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/2/105
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AT chenshenggao cusup0supfunctionalizedzif8derivednitrogendopedcarboncompositesforefficientiodineeliminationinsolution
AT jingwenchen cusup0supfunctionalizedzif8derivednitrogendopedcarboncompositesforefficientiodineeliminationinsolution
AT feiliu cusup0supfunctionalizedzif8derivednitrogendopedcarboncompositesforefficientiodineeliminationinsolution
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