Chapter 10 - Photocatalytic activity based on electrospun nanofibers

Abstract

The need for clean water and air is an ever-growing problem for underdeveloped countries and will be a major stressor on modern economies in the future. The degradation process of organic hazardous materials by metallic or semiconducting materials based on electrospun nanofibers is discussed in the present chapter. Special emphasis is directed to the fabrication of various nanofiber structure-based substances to change their properties. Dangerous compounds originating from industrial effluent as ubiquitous phenomenon damage the environment and water resources. Photodegradation among conventional technologies is a very effective and most extensively applied method due to the ease of operation and their comparable low cost for degradation of organic hazardous pollutants. Electrospun nanofibers with photocatalytic activity have one main difference in comparison with typical catalysis in terms of their photonic activation mode. This chapter covers a multitude of aspects regarding the chemical pathway for synthesis of various pure and composite semiconductors including titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), tin (IV) oxide (SnO 2 ), tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ), cerium (IV) oxide (CeO 2 ), cadmium sulfide (CdS), etc. and their photocatalytic activity based on the structures and properties of respective electrospun nanofibers. Additionally, the photodegradation of dyes, antibiotics, pesticides, and phenolic and volatile organic compound pollutants are highlighted. The advantageous characteristics of electrospun nanofiber-based photocatalysts materials is assigned to their unique structures including solid, porous, hollow, core–shell, hierarchical fibers, etc., and their influence on common hazardous compounds will be pointed out.