Ti3C2/W18O49 hybrid membrane with visible-light-driven photocatalytic ability for selective dye separation

• Ti 3 C 2 /W 18 O 49 (TW) hybrid membrane was prepared by a facile vacuum filtration method. • TW membrane exhibited selective separation of cationic dyes from water. • Electrostatic adsorption and hydrogen bond contributed to the separation of dyes. • TW membrane demonstrated excellent photocatalytic and regeneration performance. • A Schottky junction mechanism was proposed for the photocatalytic performance. Toxic organic dyes are a serious threat to the global environment, and membranes with catalytic properties show great promise as a green water treatment method for removing these pollutants. Herein, Ti 3 C 2 /W 18 O 49 photocatalytic membranes were constructed by vacuum filtrating Ti 3 C 2 and W 18 O 49 to form a hybrid layer on a mixed cellulose ester (MCE) support. The efficient separation of dyes was attributed to the negative charge and abundant –OH groups of Ti 3 C 2 /W 18 O 49 , which can capture cationic dyes by electrostatic adsorption and form hydrogen bonds with the amino groups of dye molecules. Moreover, the Ti 3 C 2 /W 18 O 49 membrane exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance and a dye-contaminated membrane was regenerated under visible light in 120 min. The two component materials complement each other, with the W 18 O 49 providing adsorption sites and photocatalytic ability and the Ti 3 C 2 serving as an electron trap and improving charge separation. Photoinduced electrons in the conduction band of W 18 O 49 are transferred to Ti 3 C 2 to form O 2 – , while holes remain in the valence band of W 18 O 49 to generate OH, and h + . O 2 – and OH are mainly responsible for the degradation of dyes. Therefore, this efficient and easily prepared membrane shows practical potential as a next-generation method for dye removal from water.