Hydrophilic PVDF membrane doped with Ti3C2 for piezocatalytic purification of water flow

Efficient and recyclable piezocatalysts are expected to use natural mechanical energy to degrade organic pollutants in water during piezoelectric degradation. Herein, flexible piezocatalytic membrane (HPVDF/Ti 3 C 2 ) was obtained by introducing Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets into PVDF with further hydrophilic modification. Polar functional groups on the Ti 3 C 2 surface interact with PVDF chains to form the high piezoelectric β-phase. The good conductivity of Ti 3 C 2 contributes to enhanced electron transport in PVDF/Ti 3 C 2 . The hydrophilic and porous HPVDF/Ti 3 C 2 composite membranes facilitate the abundant adsorption and catalytic sites. Thus, HPVDF/Ti 3 C 2 degraded BPA in water under ultrasonic vibration at a rate constant 29.5 times higher than that of the pure PVDF. Furthermore, HPVDF/Ti 3 C 2 membranes coated on stainless steel packing in filled column were found to be effective in the removal of bisphenol A (BPA) under conditions of peristaltic pump-driven water flow, thus providing a promising piezoelectric membrane for water purification using low-frequency mechanical energy from nature.