Sepiolite-based hybrid photocatalyst via covalent immobilization of carbon quantum dots for visible-light water remediation
Source abstract
Abstract
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as promising nanomaterials due to their exceptional photophysical properties and environmental compatibility. However, their nanoscale size and colloidal nature often hinder their recovery and reuse in heterogeneous systems. In this study, were demonstrated the application of sepiolite as an efficient clay mineral support for the covalent immobilization of CQDs, leading to the formation of a stable hybrid material (Sep-NH₂-CQDs). The hybrid material was thoroughly characterized and confirmed the covalent bond of CQDs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed homogeneously distributed CQDs with an average size of 2.81 ± 0.8 nm. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed visible emission across a broad spectral range, while UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) demonstrated improved light absorption between 400 and 700 nm. Photocatalytic tests showed that Sep-NH₂-CQDs achieved degradation efficiencies exceeding 90 % for methylene blue (MB), crystal violet (CV), and rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light in 90 min. The material also exhibited efficient performance in multicomponent dye mixtures, highlighting its potential for real wastewater treatment. Scavenger experiments indicated that the covalently grafting of CQDs promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species, which plays a critical role in the degradation mechanism. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential of modified sepiolite as a sustainable platform for CQD immobilization, offering a green and effective route for clay valorization and visible-light-driven water remediation applications.
Source: expertdata · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications · Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · Caching and Content Delivery
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
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