Facile and Scalable Preparation of Graphene Oxide-Based Magnetic Hybrids for Fast and Highly Efficient Removal of Organic Dyes

摘要

This study reports the facile preparation and the dye removal efficiency of nanohybrids composed of graphene oxide (GO) and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with various geometrical structures. In comparison to previously reported GO/Fe₃O₄ composites prepared through the one-pot, in situ deposition of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, the GO/Fe₃O₄ nanohybrids reported here were obtained by taking advantage of the physical affinities between sulfonated GO and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, which allows tuning the dimensions and geometries of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in order to decrease their contact area with GO, while still maintaining the magnetic properties of the nanohybrids for easy separation and adsorbent recycling. Both the as-prepared and regenerated nanohybrids demonstrate a nearly 100% removal rate for methylene blue and an impressively high removal rate for Rhodamine B. This study provides new insights into the facile and controllable industrial scale fabrication of safe and highly efficient GO-based adsorbents for dye or other organic pollutants in a wide range of environmental-related applications.