Robust Rgo Composite Aerogels With High Adsorption Capabilities For Organic Pollutants In Water

Robust CdS/RGO composite aerogels were fabricated hydrothermally from GO and L-cysteine (L-cys) in the presence of Cd2+, in which L-cys acts as a cross-linker, reducing agent as well as a sulfur source. During the formation of RGO aerogels, the in-situ formed CdS nanoparticles on the surface of RGO act as spacers to assist the exfoliation of RGO nanosheets, resulting in the formation of CdS/RGO composite aerogels with large specific surface area and high mechanical strength. Due to the existence of more exposed adsorption sites, the resultant CdS/RGO composite aerogels show significantly improved adsorption capabilities toward a variety of oils and organic solvents in water, as compared with bare cys-RGO aerogels. The facile method in the fabrication of CdS/ RGO composite aerogels was also applied to fabricate other metal sulfur-containing composite aerogels with larger specific surface area and superior adsorption capabilities, such as CuS/RGO and Ag2S/RGO composite aerogels.