Optimization of Reduced Graphene Oxide/ Polypyrrole-Coated Fabric via Dip-Coating and In-situ Polymerization for Photothermal Application
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/mjfas.v21n4.4416Keywords:
Reduced graphene oxide, polypyrrole, cotton fabric, solar-driven interfacial evaporation, photothermal, Box-Behnken designAbstract
Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE), which utilizes solar absorbers like photothermal fabric, is one of the sustainable and energy-efficient technologies for water treatment particularly suited for off-grid locations and offering high potential for scalable deployment. Employing solar absorbers in the SDIE system enables efficient solar energy harvesting for water treatment, minimizing the dependence on fossil fuels and chemical usage compared to conventional methods. In this study, a cotton fabric coated with polypyrrole/reduced graphene oxide (RGO/PPy) was developed and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken design (BBD). The optimization process focused on enhancing the photothermal surface temperature absorption of the RGO/PPy layer for SDIE applications. The optimized theoretical condition (round-off) given are: RGO suspension concentration of 3 mg/mL, pyrrole solution concentration of 0.4 M and a polymerization time of 1 hour. Under these parameters, the fabric predicted can achieve 58.06°C of surface temperature after 20 minutes of exposure. Experimental validation closely matched the predicted result, with observed surface temperatures of 58.07 °C ± 0.06 °C based on triplicate measurements of 58.1 °C, 58.1 °C, and 58.0 °C. This excellent agreement confirms the accuracy and reliability of the optimization process. Materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD confirmed successful synthesis of the materials, with peaks corresponding to graphite powder, GO, RGO, and PPy observed at specific 2-theta values. FTIR analysis validated the presence of key functional groups, including C=C and C–H stretching vibrations in PPy and oxygen-containing groups in RGO, indicating effective integration onto the fabric. This optimized RGO/PPy-coated fabric was successfully fabricated and exhibited excellent photothermal performance, demonstrating its potential for practical and scalable SDIE applications.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmad Faez Abdul Khalil, Mohd Haiqal Abd Aziz, Khoirussolih Aminuddin, Muhammad Farid Shaari, Ebrahim Mahmoudi
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