Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun TiO2-Activated Carbon Complex Fiber as Photocatalyst

Abstract

In this study, <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>-Activated carbon (AC) complex fibers were prepared by electrospinning for the synergetic effect of adsorption and degradation of organic pollutant. The average diameter of these fibers increased with increasing the amount of AC added, except for 1AC-TOF (AC<TEX>$/TiO_2$</TEX> =1/40 mass ratio). After calcinations at <TEX>$500^{\circ}C$</TEX>, long as-spun fibers were broken and their average diameter was slightly decreased. The resultant fibers after calcination had rough surface and sphere shapes like a peanut. From XRD results, it was confirmed that as-spun fibers were changed to anatase <TEX>$Ti_O2$</TEX> fiber after calcinations at <TEX>$500^{\circ}C$</TEX>. The prepared <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>-AC complex fibers could remove procian blue dyes by solar light irradiation with high removal property of 94~99%. The PB dye was rapidly removed by adsorption during the initial 5 minutes. But after 5 minutes, dye removal was occurred by photodegradation. In this study, the most efficient AC/<TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> ratio of <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>-AC complex fibers was 5/40, showing the synergetic effect of adsorption and photodegradation. It is expected that the <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>-AC complex fibers can be used to remove of organic pollutants in water system.