MXene-supported cobalt nanocomposite cathode and hybrid photoanode for integrated pollutant removal and power generation in radioactive wastewater

The synergistic contamination of uranium and organic pollutants in complex aquatic systems significantly complicates environmental remediation efforts and poses substantial threats to ecosystems and human health. This study presents a self-driven photocatalytic fuel cell (SDPFC) that achieves coordinated uranium recycling, organic degradation, and electricity generation through the innovative integration of cobalt-based composite cathodes and semiconductor photoanodes. The system’s primary innovation lies in constructing dual functional catalytic interfaces using a MXene supported cobalt nanoparticle-embedded nitrogen doped carbon cathode (Co-N x /C@MXene) coupled with TiO 2 nanoarray/silicon photovoltaic cell hybrid photoanodes. The engineered Co-N x /C@MXene composite cathode demonstrates enhanced performance through MXene’s abundant surface functional groups enabling U(VI) enrichment, complemented by nitrogen-cobalt co-doping architecture that significantly improves charge transfer efficiency, thereby accelerating the hexavalent uranium reduction kinetics. Notably, under natural sunlight irradiation, the removal efficiencies of SDPFC for both U(VI) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) remained above 94%. Even after 10 consecutive cycles, SDPFC continued to exhibit high removal efficiencies and excellent cyclic stability for both pollutants. This work overcomes the technical limitations of conventional wastewater treatment technologies in systems with multiple contaminants, proposing an innovative energy recovery catalytic strategy that establishes a new paradigm for radioactive wastewater management.