Preparation of TiO2 nanofibers immobilized on quartz substrate by electrospinning for photocatalytic degradation of ranitidine

Abstract

The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanofibers immobilized on quartz substrates was investigated by evaluating the decomposition of organic pollutants. TiO2 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. TiO2 started to crystalize in the anatase form at 500 A degrees C and reached the optimal photocatalytic anatase/rutile phase ratio of 70:30 at a calcination temperature of 600 A degrees C. The TiO2-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 TiO2 nanofibers during photocatalytic operations.