Biomass-derived carbon aerogel loaded with V, W co-doped molybdenum disulfide and MXene: A solar-driven enhanced platform for adsorption of Cs+ and Sr2+ from nuclear wastewater

The integration of external field-enhanced effects such as the photothermal effect has emerged as a promising strategy for improving the adsorption efficiency of adsorbents toward Cs + and Sr 2+ due to its energy saving and high efficiency. Herein, a multifunctional photothermal adsorbent is rationally designed and synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermal method and electrostatic assembly by combining V, W co-doped MoS 2 , P-MXene, and biomass-derived carbon aerogel (VWMoS 2 /P-MXene/C). Doping of V and W induces the phase transition of MoS 2 to the more active 1T phase, providing more accessible active adsorption sites. Moreover, the 3D porous structure of the biomass-derived carbon aerogel offers sufficient water transport channels, accelerating the diffusion kinetics of Cs + and Sr 2+ . The excellent photothermal conversion capability of the VWMoS 2 /P-MXene/C composite drives water evaporation, which promotes the increase of local concentrations of Cs + and Sr 2+ in the water medium. This synergistic mechanism combining phase engineering and photothermal enhancement collectively contributes to the excellent performance in Cs + and Sr 2+ capture. The VWMoS 2 /P-MXene/C demonstrates adsorption capacities of 158.3 mg/g for Cs + and 110.1 mg/g for Sr 2+ within 1 h, respectively, under photothermal enhancement. Simultaneously, the adsorbent exhibits excellent ion selectivity and reusability. The possible adsorption mechanisms mainly involve surface complexation and electrostatic interactions. Moreover, VWMoS 2 /P-MXene/C demonstrates a long-term solar-driven desalination capability with an evaporation rate of 1.98 kg·m −2 ·h −1 in natural seawater. Notably, the VWMoS 2 /P-MXene/C also shows promising application potential for dye removal and oil adsorption. This work provides a universal strategy for designing multifunctional integrated adsorbents and promotes their practical applications in radioactive wastewater treatment and seawater desalination