Fabrication and catalytic performance of a novel tubular PMIA/Ag@RGO nanocomposite nanofiber membrane

A novel tubular poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) nanofiber membrane decorated with Ag nanoparticles was fabricated via a simple method in this study. First, Ag@RGO nanocomposites were prepared via a mussel-inspired method. Then, a tubular PMIA/Ag@RGO nanocomposite nanofiber membrane (T-PMIA/Ag@RGO NNM) was prepared by adding Ag@RGO nanocomposites to the electrospining solution. In particular, hollow braided rope was used as the collector and reinforcement during the electrospinning process. T-PMIA/Ag@RGO NNM exhibits an excellent catalytic efficiency as most of the Ag nanoparticles were exposed to the surface of the nanofiber and because of the fast mass transfer in continuous catalysis process. T-PMIA/Ag@RGO NNM can be easily recycled from the reaction solution and exhibits good reusability. The degradation rate for 4-NP could still remain 98.7% after ten consecutive cycles. The results might advance the real applications of the nanofiber membrane in the continuous catalysis process.