Role of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption of dye molecules by Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>-MXenes
Sehyeong Lim, Jin Hyung Kim, Hyunsu Park, Chaesu Kwak, Jeewon Yang, Ji‐Eun Kim, Seoung Young Ryu, Joohyung Lee
Abstract
-MXenes for six different organic dyes in aquatic media at different pH levels and ionic strengths. Our results strongly suggest the importance of the electrostatic interactions between the ionizable functional groups of MXenes and dyes for removal efficiency. The electrostatic repulsions between negatively charged MXenes and certain anionic dyes reduced the removal efficiencies of MXenes for these dyes in DI water; however, the presence of divalent cations significantly improved the removal efficiencies, possibly owing to the charge screening effects and like-charge attractions mediated by cation binding to the functionalities of dyes and MXenes. These results provide a rational strategy for optimizing the conditions for efficient removal of different types of organic dyes using MXenes.