Environmental sustainability is gaining momentum as a topic of interest in the scientific community.  Nanotechnology can provide novel systems for rapid decontamination and sustainability.  Electromagnetic radiation in the form of visible and ultra-violet light, typically provided by sunlight, can be used to achieve self-cleaning photodegradation of environmental toxins such as, toxic industrial chemicals (TICs), toxic organic dyes, biopharmaceuticals, and chemical warfare agents (CWAs). TiO2 nanofibers represent an alternative approach to conventional composites used in photocatalytic degradation. The one dimensional morphology of TiO2 nanofibers is desired compared to spherical TiO2 nanoparticles; due to its excellent mobility of charge carriers, high surface area, the existence of pores enhancing the accessibility of electrodes to the hole transporting materials and hence enhanced charge collection and transport. The fabrication process takes advantage of electrospinning, a non-mechanical, electrostatic technique that can produce fibers in the nanometer range using electrically driven jets of polymer sol-gel solution followed by a calcination process under thermally controlled atmospheric conditions. The results are hypothesized to provide modifications leading to improvement of photocatalysis with priority in decontamination of selected templates of environmental toxins. Fabrication, catalytic mechanism, and application of electrospun TiO2 nanofibers will be further discussed.

Fabrication of TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers for photocatalytic degradation of environmental toxins

247th National Meeting (2014)

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Fabrication of TiO2 nanofibers for photocatalytic degradation of environmental toxins

Fabrication of TiO₂ nanofibers for photocatalytic degradation of environmental toxins