Abstract
In this study, the enhanced photocatalytic activities of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filaments deposited with N-doped Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles sensitized with water insoluble disperse blue SE–2R dye were investigated. The PET filaments were loaded with two types of N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles, one with and the other without being sensitized with disperse blue SE–2R dye, in one-pot hydrothermal process respectively. The differences in photocatalytic activities between the N-doped TiO2 and the dye-sensitized N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles when exposed to both UV rays and visible lights were analyzed and compared by using their photodegradations of methylene blue (MB) dye. It was demonstrated that the disperse blue dye facilitated the electron–hole separation in N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles faster under UV irradiation than that under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the PET filaments loaded with dye-sensitized N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles exposure to UV irradiation, in comparison with that under visible light irradiation, was attributed to both improved light absorption capacity and high separation efficiency of photo-generated electron–hole pairs. Furthermore, the conduction band and band gap of the PET filaments deposited with N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles sensitized with disperse blue SE–2R dye were influenced by the wavelength of light sources, while its valence band was not affected. The PET filaments deposited with dye-sensitized N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles have a potential application to degrade organic pollutants.
Highlights
IntroductionTitanium dioxide (TiO2 ) nanoparticles, as a typical semiconductor photocatalyst having low toxicity, strong oxidizing power and high photocatalytic activity with tunable hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties [1], are frequently used in water and air purifications [2], sterilizations or disinfections [3], as well as a component in sunscreens [4], pigments [5], and other products [6]
The surfaces of the filaments obtained from both technical schemes are deposited with a layer of particulates in the size of micrometers, and their appearances are very similar to the fibers obtained from hydrothermal process using titanium sulfate as precursor [34]
The effects of the sensitization of water insoluble disperse blue SE–2R dye on the enhanced photocatalytic activities of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filaments deposited with N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were investigated
Summary
Titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) nanoparticles, as a typical semiconductor photocatalyst having low toxicity, strong oxidizing power and high photocatalytic activity with tunable hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties [1], are frequently used in water and air purifications [2], sterilizations or disinfections [3], as well as a component in sunscreens [4], pigments [5], and other products [6]. Other advanced oxidation approaches were utilized [16] to produce reactive free radicals having a higher oxidizing power in the TiO2 photo-oxidation process for the destruction of contaminants, including sensitization of TiO2 nanoparticles with both polymerpendant Ru(bpy) complexes and dyes because of their more efficient visible light harvesting capability [17]. TiO2 nanoparticles have been extensively applied in textile industries to obtain various functional fabrics having self-cleaning [24], UV-protection [25], and antimicrobial properties [26] These functional textiles were fabricated by coating of TiO2 nanoparticles on fabric surface using different precursors based on sol-gel [27], hydrothermal [28], pulsed laser deposition [29], plasma [30], and other methods [31]. This research highlights a new TiO2 composite having enhanced photocatalytic efficiency to degrade organic pollutants
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