Electrically enhanced adsorption efficiency of aluminum nitride nanotube for sulfate ion removal from water

Herein, the adsorption performance of sulfate ion in water on aluminum nitride nanotube(AlNNT) under the influence of an electric field was investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) calculation method. The model structure stability, adsorption energy, electronic and thermodynamic properties of sulfate ion adsorbed on the surface of AlNNT were studied. The calculation results indicate that sulfate ion reacts with multi-atoms on the surface of AlNNT, forming ionic bonds and undergoing chemical adsorption. As the electric field intensity increases, the adsorption energy and the transfer of electrons from sulfate ion to AlNNT increase, leading to a higher degree of hybridization of atomic orbitals and enhanced multi-atom interactions. Additionally, the thermodynamic data suggests that the adsorption between sulfate ion and AlNNT under electric field can occur spontaneously, the process of which is exothermic. The results of present study are expected to propose a novel method for separation and removal of sulfate pollutants from water.