PVP-derived TiO2/C and TiO2/C/N Nanofibers by SBS with High Adsorption/Photocatalytic Capacity

Abstract

A solution blow spinning (SBS) process was utilized to create nanofibers of TiO2/C and TiO2/C/N with potential applications in photocatalysis and dye adsorption. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was used as a carbon and nitrogen source. Their content in the TiO2 structure decreased as the temperature increased from 350 to 550 °C. Physical-chemical, morphological, and structural features were investigated. Adsorption and photodegradation experiments revealed that the material calcined at 400 °C had higher dye removal (98%) under dark settings, whereas the greater photodegradation efficiency under visible and UV light was 56% and 98%, respectively, for the sample calcined at 550 °C. The results suggest that the SBS has the potential to develop an efficient adsorbent and photocatalyst for use in treatments of contaminated water.

Keywords

• Polyvinylpyrrolidone
• TiO2/C
• TiO2/C/N
• nanofibers
• solution blow spinning
• adsorption
• photocatalysis