Multifunctional CeO2/Co3O4@polyacrylonitrile nanofibers for high-efficiency air-pollutant removal

Abstract

As many countries in the world are paying increasing attention to air quality, reducing the concentration of pollutants in the air, protecting human health and improving the ecological environment have become problems that need to be solved urgently. This paper describes how ceria and cobalt tetroxide@polyacrylonitrile (CeO2/Co3O4@PAN) nanofiber membranes are produced using electrospinning technology, which have broad applications for the removal of air pollutants. Results show that CeO2/Co3O4@PAN has high electrostatic attraction to particulate matter (PM). CeO2/Co3O4@PAN membranes show better mechanical properties, thermal stability and air-purification performance than pure PAN membranes. Nanofiber membranes with 5 wt% of CeO2/Co3O4 have excellent removal efficiency: 93.4% and 94.5% for PM2.5 and PM10, respectively, and 96.2% and 98% for formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds, respectively. They also show low pressure drops, high stability and good recyclability. This work shows that they are promising candidates as highly stable, recyclable and efficient agents for the removal of air pollutants.