Superelastic and Photothermal RGO/Zr-Doped TiO2 Nanofibrous Aerogels Enable the Rapid Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agents

To date, the reckless use of deadly chemical warfare agents (CWAs) has posed serious risks to humanity, property, and ecological environment. Therefore, necessary materials able to rapidly adsorb and securely decompose these hazardous toxics are in urgent demand. Herein, three-dimensional (3D) reduced graphene oxide/Zr-doped TiO2 nanofibrous aerogels (RGO/ZT NAs) are synthesized by feasibly combining sol-gel electrospinning technology and a unidirectional freeze-drying approach. Benefiting from the synergetic coassembly of flexible ZT nanofibers and pliable RGO nanosheets, the hierarchically entangled fibrous frameworks feature ultralow density, superior elasticity, and robust fatigue resistance over 10(6) compressive cycles. In particular, the RGO incorporation is attributed to the achieved increased surface area, stronger light absorption, and decreased recombination of charge-carriers for photocatalysis. The highly porous 3D RGO/ZT NAs deliver enhanced photothermal catalytic activity for CWA degradation as well as excellent recyclability and good photostability. This work opens fresh horizons for developing advanced 3D aerogel-based photocatalysts in a controlled fashion.

Automated summary

In this study, three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide/Zr-doped TiO2 nanofibrous aerogels were successfully synthesized, which showed ultralow density, superior elasticity, and high porosity. These materials demonstrated enhanced photothermal catalytic activity for the degradation of deadly chemical warfare agents, along with good recyclability and photostability.