Work

Facile coating of floating polyurethane foams using reduced graphene oxide and TiO2 for pollutant adsorption and photodegradation in water

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Developing effective and sustainable technologies for wastewater treatment is challenging in materials engineering. Photocatalysis based on TiO 2 is a promising solution for removing organic contaminants. However, the large bandgap and predominant use of TiO 2 nanoparticles hinder the industrial scalability of the process owing to the requirement of UV light, recovery issues, and potential environmental concerns. This study developed a simple and low-energy consuming strategy to combine TiO 2 nanopowder and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in a water-based coating for polyurethane (PU) foams. The addition of rGO provides multiple synergistic functions including (i) immobilization of TiO 2 particles, (ii) adsorption of organic pollutants, improving the contact with catalytic sites, and (iii) partial bandgap narrowing, as reported in the literature. Commercial PU foams (20 PPI; 5.5 cm diameter; 0.5 cm thickness) were dip-coated with formulations at rGO:TiO 2 mass ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3. Photocatalytic activity was assessed via Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation (3 mg L −1 aqueous solution) under UV-Vis irradiation. Complete removal was achieved within 90 min by using rGO-TiO 2 1:3-coated samples, as evidenced by the subsequent RhB release experiments. Coated foams were fully characterized, both before and after decontamination tests, through thermal (TG and DSC), spectroscopic (EDX, UV-Vis, and ICP-OES) and morphological (optical microscopy and SEM) analyses, which confirmed coating stability. The proposed binder-free strategy provides a scalable route to design multifunctional photocatalytic foams. Moreover, by bridging materials engineering with environmental applications, it opens perspectives for the development of sustainable, easily deployable wastewater treatment systems.

Source: Materials Today Chemistry

DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2026.103611

Authors: Anna Dotti, Andrea Basso Peressut, Lorenzo Viganò, Barbara Di Credico, Roberto Matarrese, Saverio Latorrata

Institutions: Politecnico di Milano, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, University of Milano-Bicocca

Language: English

Topic: TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500