Synergistic NH2-MIL-88B/Ta4C3TX/graphene aerogels for sustainable wastewater treatment and thermal energy storage

The urgent need for multifunctional, high-performance materials is critical in addressing environmental pollution and energy shortages faced by contemporary society. This research presents innovative NH2-MIL-88B/ Ta4C3TX/graphene aerogels that exhibit exceptional capabilities in photocatalysis and thermal energy storage utilizing solar energy. Synthesized through a combination of hydrothermal and freeze-drying methods, these aerogels feature unique structural characteristics, including a hierarchical porous structure, low density, and a large specific surface area. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of NH2-MIL-88B, Ta4C3TX MXene, and the aerogel matrix contribute to remarkable physicochemical properties, such as high sunlight absorptivity and an optimal optical band gap that aligns well with the solar spectrum. These attributes enable the aerogels to photodegrade various dye and antibiotic drug solutions with high concentrations. The photodegradation efficiencies achieved were 75.57 % for Congo red, 61.56 % for methylene blue, and 58.57 % for tetracycline hydrochloride. Additionally, these aerogels exhibit significant adsorption capacities for various dyes and drugs. Moreover, when the phase change material polyethylene glycol is successfully integrated into the aerogels, they exhibit excellent thermal energy storage performance with leak-proof capabilities. A high photothermal conversion efficiency of 90.15 %, a phase enthalpy of 202.13 J g-1, and an enthalpy efficiency of 98.55 % provide evidence for this. This work provides valuable insights into the development of multifunctional aerogels aimed at addressing the challenges of wastewater treatment and energy shortages.