Enabling Highly Recoverable and Efficient Nanosized Photocatalysts via Constructing Robust Submillimetric Patchy Particles

This work reports a class of packable composite catalysts in form of submillimetric patchy particles which demonstrate an excellent recyclability. Those patchy particles are simply constructed via the hydrothermal treatment of the dense slurry of hydroxylated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and carbon nitride microtubes. These large-sized particles can be directly packed into a tea bag made of 800 mesh nylon filter cloth. This kind of porous package allows the arrival of light on the particles and meanwhile significantly benefits the recovery of the photocatalysts from polluted water. Robust adhesion of tubular carbon nitride and UHMWPE powders is established via creating synergies between van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding for maintaining high degrading ability of these patchy particles even after 30 cycles.