Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE This study presents a recyclable, transparent, and highly dispersed TiO2 quantum dot/polyacrylamide hydrogel composite for efficient photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants, contributing to sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.


ABSTRACT
In this study, we present a transparent, recyclable hydrogel composite by integrating TiO2 quantum dots (TDQDs) into a polyacrylamide (PAM) matrix, where the TDQDs function dually as photoinitiators and photocatalysts. The TDQDs were synthesized via a simple water-bath method and facilitated rapid photopolymerization of PAM, forming a porous hydrogel with uniformly dispersed quantum dots (2–3 nm), as confirmed by SEM and HRTEM analyses. The resulting TDQD/PAM hydrogel demonstrated efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange within approximately 2 h, outperforming conventional P25/PAM composites due to its superior light transmittance and nanoscale distribution of photocatalysts. Importantly, the hydrogel retained stable photocatalytic activity over seven consecutive cycles without regeneration, indicating excellent durability. Mechanistic studies revealed that TDQD generated reactive oxygen species, effectively degrading dyes with a tendency toward mineralization and reduced toxicity risk. This dual-functional hydrogel offers a sustainable and scalable platform for advanced wastewater treatment and aligns with circular economy principles.