Preparation of TiO_2 nanofibers immobilized on quartz substrate by electrospinning for photocatalytic degradation of ranitidine

摘要

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 TiO2-nanofiber films to the substrates. TiO_2 started to crystalize in the anatase form at 500 ℃ and reached the optimal photocatalytic anatase/rutile phase ratio of 70:30 at a calcination temperature of 600 ℃. 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.