UV-protection and photocatalytic properties of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous mats coated with TiO2 nanofilm via sol–gel

Abstract

UV radiation causes serious damage to skin, and a protective system capable of absorbing or reflecting UV radiation is required to protect skin. This paper describes the UV protection and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanofilm coated electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous mats with various nanofiber diameter and area density. The mats were coated by sol–gel process. The results of this research showed that sol–gel is capable of coating porous nanofibrous mats with a weight increase as low as 0.8%. The TiO2 nanofilm coated on the nanofibrous mats has a considerable effect on its UV protection. The UV protection factor (UPF) of the mats increases with decreasing nanofiber diameter. In fact decreasing the diameter of nanofibers of the TiO2 nanofilm coated PAN nanofibrous mats increases their photocatalytic activity. Moreover, this research showed that TiO2 nanofilm produced through sol–gel process on the PAN nanofibers has a crystalline structure. The UPF of the nanofibrous mat coated with a TiO2 nanofilm via sol–gel process can be classified as excellent.