Porous carbon nanosheets functionalized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles for capacitive removal of heavy metal ions from water

Abstract

Development of cheap and high-efficiency electrode materials applied to capacitive deionization (CDI) technology is critically important for ensuring the safety of drinking water through capacitive removal of heavy metal ions. Here, we report ultrafine Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle (NP) functionalized porous graphitic carbon nanosheets (PGCNs) derived from sugarcane bagasse (Fe₃O₄/PGCNs) fabricated through a combined pyrolysis and incipient-wetness impregnation treatment approach. The as-proposed Fe₃O₄/PGCN has a large specific surface area of 1692.6 m² g⁻¹, a hierarchical porous structure and outstanding electroconductivity. Importantly, the functionalization of ultrafine Fe₃O₄ NPs (4–7 nm) on sugarcane bagasse derived PGCNs enables Fe₃O₄/PGCNs to have significantly enhanced electrosorption capacity, surface negative charge and wettability compared to PGCNs without modification, as a promising CDI electrode material for highly efficient decontamination of heavy metal ions from water. Here, Fe₃O₄/PGCNs as the cathode and amino-functionalized commercial activated carbon (A-AC) as the anode were used to construct a membrane-free hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) system displaying very high ion removal capacities (20.9 and 20.2 mg g⁻¹), average removal rates (0.7 and 0.67 mg g⁻¹ min⁻¹) and removal efficiency (>95%) towards Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ with a concentration of 20 mg L⁻¹ in water (pH = 5.5–6.5). The HCDI system made from Fe₃O₄/PGCN//A-AC also exhibits good regeneration performance, high recycling stability and strong ion removal capability towards a mixture of multiple heavy metal ions (Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺) with a removal efficiency of 90–97%, indicating great application potential for drinking water purification.