Ice rock-resembling PHB thin films doped with TiO2 NPs as photocatalyst

Abstract

This study is to evaluate the performance of TiO 2 as a photocatalyst for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in different concentrations. Five different concentrations of TiO 2 nanoparticles (0.001-0.005 wt%) have been added to PHB blend to produce modified PHB films. The conducting characterizations using FTIR, UV, SEM and optical microscope confirmed the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 on the surface of PHB films. The SEM analyses after irradiation reports show that the PHB thin films doped with different concentrations of TiO 2 nanoparticles have piece of ice rock-resembling structure nature with heterogeneous surface morphology. After irradiation, the photodecomposition rate constant showed the highest value in the presence of TiO 2 with concentration (0.005 wt%). Therefore, TiO 2 nanoparticles, in particular high concentration (0.005 wt%), are considered as a photocatalyst for PHB films (30 μm thickness) photodegradation.