Bio-inspired fabrication of Ag-ZnO nanoparticle decorated Nylon 11 nanofibers: Multifunctional membrane for environmental remediation

• Published in: Vacuum 2025-01, Vol.231, p.113766, Article 113766
• Main Authors: Ding, Rui, Pandeya, Shiva, Shang, Qianqian, Zhu, Xueqing, Ma, Yufei, Han, Xuling, Gui, Meixing, Li, Ziliang, Joshi, Mahesh Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrospinning; Mussel inspired attachment; Nylon 11; Photocatalysis; Water purification
• ISSN: 0042-207X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2024.113766

Traditional wastewater treatment methods using nanoparticles (NPs) encounter challenges with catalyst recovery. In this study, we fabricated a Nylon 11 nanofibrous membrane (NFM) via electrospinning and functionalized it with polydopamine (PDA) to immobilize Ag-ZnO NPs for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The Nylon 11 NFM was treated with a dopamine tris buffer solution for PDA coating, which facilitated mussel-inspired attachment of the ZnO NPs. These NPs served as a nucleation site for the biomimetic nucleation of Ag-ZnO NPs during the hydrothermal process. The synthesized composite membrane was characterized by various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The water contact angle decreased from 135° (Nylon 11 NFM) to 41° (PDA/Nylon 11 NFM) and the filtration efficiency improved 10 folds (from 15.92 Lm-2h−1 to 170.60 Lm−2 h−1) at ambient conditions. The Ag-ZnO/PDA/Nylon 11 NFM showed strong antimicrobial activity against different bacterial strains and excellent photocatalytic degradation for methyl orange with a rate constant of 0.0431 min−1, significantly surpassing other configurations. The membrane exhibited excellent stability, reusability and consistent photocatalytic efficiency over multiple cycles. It is easily recoverable from the reaction mixture, and suitable for repeated use, making it a promising candidate for environmental remediation due to its antibacterial properties, photocatalytic activity, enhanced filtration efficiency, and reusability. •Bioresource based Nylon 11 NFM surface modified with facile polymerization of PDA.•PDA eased the seeding of the ZnO NPs, and Ag-ZnO nucleation at the fiber surface.•PDA enhanced concentration gradients of MO at NFM and the photocatalytic activity.•Ag-ZnO NPs were strongly adhered to NFM, facilitates recycling applications.•Photocatalytic and antibacterial and water filtration efficiency was enhanced.