RESEARCH ON CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES, v.38, no.6, pp.1161 - 1169
Abstract
The photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 nanofibers immobilized on quartz substrates was investigated by evaluating the decomposition of organic pollutants. TiO 2 nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning the Ti-precursor/polymer mixture solution, followed by hot-pressing for enhancing the adhesion of TiO 2-nanofiber films to the substrates. TiO 2 started to crystalize in the anatase form at 500 °C and reached the optimal photocatalytic anatase/rutile phase ratio of 70:30 at a calcination temperature of 600 °C. The TiO 2-nanofiber film was demonstrated to be an efficient photocatalyst by ranitidine decomposition under UV illumination and was proven to have a comparable photocatalytic activity with the well-known Degussa P25 nanoparticulate photocatalyst and excellent recyclability during 10 cycles of photocatalytic operation, indicating no loss of TiO 2 nanofibers during photocatalytic operations.