Electrospun mesoporous silica nanofibers decorated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles for a repeatable photocatalysis

Abstract

Mesoporous silica nanofiber (MSFs) were used as support material for TiO2 to fabricate nanofibrous photocatalysts for more versatile use of colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles. The MSFs were prepared by electrospinning and TiO2 nanoparticle were successfully introduced onto the MSF surface (MSF-TiO2) through a sol-gel reaction with the TiO2 precursor. The MSF-TiO2 retained the mesoporous structure and showed a large specific surface area. The combined effects of adsorption and photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye were investigated to determine the total removal performance of MSF-TiO2. MSF-TiO2 was found to efficiently remove MB through both effects. It should be noted that repeated use of MSF-TiO2 after regeneration was possible mainly because of the supported nanofibers. In addition, MSF-TiO2 was successfully used as a photocatalyst in the oxidative coupling of benzylamine. The MSF photocatalyst having a large specific surface area is a promising candidate for use in various applications, because it can be easily separated and recovered, and it also presents a high catalytic activity.