TiO2 nanosheet-graphene oxide based photocatalytic hierarchical membrane for water purification

There is a rising concern over the toxicity of nanomaterials which emphasizes the need for reforms in application of nanomaterials in water treatment. A hierarchical membrane with a thin layer of photocatalyst coated on top of the membrane surface has emerged as a better alternate for immobilization of photocatalyst. Studies have revealed that nanoparticles are not pliable for synthesis of hierarchical membranes due to their smaller size and low stability after deposition. TiO2 nanosheets serve as better alternate due their thin structure which enables stable layer formation. Integrating the nanosheets with modifiers like graphene oxide can further enhance the photocatalytic activity. The sheet structure of graphene oxide enhances stable film formation and also acts as support for interconnecting TiO2 nanosheets. In the present work, TiO2 nanosheets are modified with graphene oxide and used to develop a hierarchical membrane by depositing a catalyst coating on a support membrane. The hierarchical membrane performance was studied using Congo red dye as model pollutant and the effect of catalyst loading on the permeate flux and dye removal were analyzed.