Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysts of Perfluorinated Silica-Based Fluorescent Carbon Dot/TiO2 for Tunable Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Surfaces.

Abstract

In this study, a new hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition surface was designed via visible-light-induced photocatalytic perfluorinated silica-based fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (FNPs)/TiO2. Perfluorinated silica-polydopamine hybrid FNPs (f-FNPs) were easily fabricated by carbonization in an emulsion system consisting of tetraethyl orthosilicate and dopamine, followed by the deposition of TiO2 on f-FNPs, which demonstrated the reversal from hydrophobic to hydrophilic nature during successful photocatalysis. The synergistic effect of silica-carbon and the deposited TiO2 NPs led to the decomposition of methylene blue under UV and visible light irradiation, demonstrating that FNPs/TiO2 sustains photocatalytic activity. The profound contact angle with the catalytic kinetics curve and precise morphology and extension of cells detach antifouling exceptionally unrestricted the synergistic effect of silica-carbon on TiO2 NPs on a coated paper substrate. Given the interest in the manipulation of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, this study can serve as a guideline for the fabrication of photocatalytic surfaces where water spreads completely.