Mesoporous Silica/Iron Phthalocyanine Light-Driven Nanomaterials for Efficient Removal of Pb²⁺ Ions from Wastewater

The detrimental effects of anthropogenic heavy metal pollution on the environment have recently become a pressing concern, with Pb 2+ ions emerging as a particularly hazardous pollutant. In this paper, we report the synthesis and characterization of light-driven mesoporous silica-IP (iron phthalocyanine) nanomaterials that exhibit remarkable efficiency and selectivity in the removal of Pb 2+ ions from wastewater. The fibrous structure of the material provides a large specific surface area and adsorption sites, enabling it to achieve a theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of 69.78 mg/g. In addition, our studies of the adsorption effect of actual wastewater showed a significant reduction in the concentration of Pb 2+ ions to 1.76 mg/L, indicating the excellent effectiveness of the material in treating contaminated water sources. In addition, the photosensitive material on the surface of the material provides reliable light-driving capability, enabling rapid separation of Pb 2+ ions from wastewater with a maximum movement speed of 26 μm/s.