High-Specific Surface Area Hierarchical Al2O3 Carbon Fiber Based on A Waste Paper Fiber Template: Preparation and Adsorption for Iodide Ions

In this work, a hierarchical Al2O3 carbon fiber (H-Al-CF) was successfully fabricated for application in the removal of iodide ions from water. High yields of Al2O3-coated carbon fiber were prepared by a sol–gel process using waste paper fibers as templates and carbon sources. The H-Al-CF is fabricated by an in-situ growth of AlOOH nanocrystals on the surface of carbon fibers following calcination. The synthesized H-Al-CF exhibits the developed porosity including mesopores and macropores, and has high-specific surface area (348.9 m2 g−1) and iodide ions' adsorption efficiency (92.3%). The in-situ growth process ensures that H-Al-CF has a more stable structure, further promoting higher adsorption efficiency.