Microfluidics-Driven Piezophotocatalysis: An Innovative Approach for Accelerated Water Remediation Using...

The growing contamination of water resources with persistent dyes and pharmaceuticals necessitates the development of rapid and energy-efficient remediation technologies. We present a microfluidic purification reactor that synergistically integrates piezophotocatalysis with flow-engineered microstructures to enable rapid pollutant degradation. The microreactor, fabricated from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) via laser micromachining, was optimized with strategically positioned micropillars to induce turbulence and enhance mass transfer, with COMSOL Multiphysics simulations validating flow behavior and vorticity patterns. Catalytic functionality was introduced through an electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membrane embedded with MoS₂ and WS₂ nanoparticles forming an active piezophotocatalytic interface within the reactor bed. Structural, compositional, and functional characterizations identified PM15 (15 wt% MoS₂) and PW20 (20 wt% WS₂) as optimal nanocomposites, with their electromechanical response validated by a piezoelectric nanogenerator generating ≥36 V. Under optimized operating conditions, flow rate of 50 µL/min, visible-light irradiation, and ultrasonic excitation at 60 kHz, the integrated system achieved rapid degradation efficiencies of ≥94% for RhB and ≥90% for CIP within 252 s, outperforming conventional methods. A multiple linear regression model accurately predicted degradation efficiencies from key operational parameters, demonstrating the utility of data-driven process optimization. Overall, the integrated microfluidic-piezophotocatalyst platform establishes a rapid, high-throughput, and energy-efficient approach for advanced water purification.