Superhydrophobic Cerium-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks/Polymer Nanofibers for Water Treatment

Abstract

In this study, cerium-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), cerium terephthalate (CeTPA), were synthesized and incorporated into nanofibers via electrospinning using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The synthesized materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Tauc plot analysis. The electrospun CeTPA nanofibers exhibited superhydrophobic properties, with water contact angles exceeding 150°. The adsorption and catalytic performance of the nanofibers were assessed for dye removal using Congo red (CR) and methylene blue (MB) as model organic pollutants. Adsorption studies demonstrated negligible dye uptake due to the hydrophobicity of the fibers, while catalytic degradation experiments in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) showed significant degradation of CR but limited effectiveness against MB, offering high selectivity toward anionic dyes. Structural and optical characterizations confirmed the stability and catalytic activity of CeTPA nanofibers, highlighting their potential for selective dye degradation in wastewater treatment applications.