Synthesis of TiO2 nanofibers using electrospinning for photocatalytic application

In this article we introduce electrospinning as a method for preparation carbon doped TiO2 nanofibers. For fiber formation polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), titanium isopropoxide (TITP), ethanol and acetic acid were used to prepare a viscous solution and was electrospun under 20 kV applied voltage. Annealing the fibers in air and oxygen removed polymer and TiO2 remained in the shape of nanofibers. XPS results from the annealed samples in air revealed carbon in TiC chemical state. Since optical band gap and crystal structure of TiO2 influence on photocatalytic properties, diffuse reflectance and XRD experiments were performed. We observed a reduction about 0.2 eV in the band gap and mixture of two rutile and anatase phases. Annealing in flowing oxygen environment results more anatase phase and highest photocatalytic activity.

Keywords:

Electrospinning , TiO2 , Nanofibers , Photocatalyst