Photocatalytic performance of electrospun CNT/TiO2 nanofibers in a simulated air purifier under visible light irradiation

Abstract

The photocatalytic treatment of gaseous benzene under visible light irradiation was developed using electrospun carbon nanotube/titanium dioxide (CNT/TiO) nanofibers as visible light active photocatalysts. The CNT/TiO nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning CNT/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) solution followed by the removal of PVP by calcination at 450 °C. The molar ratio of CNT/TiO was fixed at 0.05:1 by weight, and the quantity of CNT/TiO loaded in PVP solution varied between 30 and 60 % wt. CNT/TiO nanofibers have high specific surface area (116 m/g), significantly higher than that of TiO nanofibers (44 m/g). The photocatalytic performance of the CNT/TiO nanofibers was investigated by decolorization of 1 × 10 M methylene blue (MB) dye (in water solution) and degradation of 100 ppm gaseous benzene under visible light irradiation. The 50-CNT/TiO nanofibers (calcined CNT/TiO nanofibers fabricated from a spinning solution of 50 % wt CNT/TiO based on PVP) had higher MB degradation efficiency (58 %) than did other CNT/TiO nanofibers and pristine TiO nanofibers (15 %) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation of gaseous benzene under visible light irradiation on filters made of 50-CNT/TiO nanofibers was carried out in a simulated air purifier system. Similar to MB results, the degradation efficiency of gaseous benzene by 50-CNT/TiO nanofibers (52 %) was higher than by other CNT/TiO nanofibers and pristine TiO nanofibers (18 %). The synergistic effects of the larger surface area and lower band gap energy of CNT/TiO nanofibers were presented as strong adsorption ability and greater visible light adsorption. The CNT/TiO nanofiber prepared in this study has potential for use in air purifiers to improve air treatment efficiency with less energy.

Visible-Light-Active TiO2-Based Hybrid Nanocatalysts for Environmental Applications

“…The heterostructure was irradiated under visible light (λ = 435 nm). Benzene vapour has been selected as a target compound, achieving 50% degradation after 120 min of irradiation [141]. Metallic copper nanoparticles have been exploited to decorate TiO 2 and to investigate the photocatalytic degradation of gaseous acetone and acetaldehyde under visible LED irradiation (400-700 nm).…”

Graphitic Carbon Nitride and Titanium Dioxide Modified with 1 D and 2 D Carbon Structures for Photocatalysis

“…[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] Among the reports, the photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol, [41] nitrobenzene, [42] and benzene; [43] the photocatalytic degradationo fd yes such as methylene blue (MB), [43,44,46] methyl orange (MO), [45] and RhB; [44,47] and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution [44,45] have been described. [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] Among the reports, the photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol, [41] nitrobenzene, [42] and benzene; [43] the photocatalytic degradationo fd yes such as methylene blue (MB), [43,44,46] methyl orange (MO), [45] and RhB; [44,47] and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution [44,45] have been described.…”

“…CNTs, both single-walled( SWCNTs) and multi-walled (MWCNTs) carbonn anotubes, are widely used as nanoadditives to increaset he photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 . [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] Among the reports, the photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol, [41] nitrobenzene, [42] and benzene; [43] the photocatalytic degradationo fd yes such as methylene blue (MB), [43,44,46] methyl orange (MO), [45] and RhB; [44,47] and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution [44,45] have been described.…”

“…All these effects lead to the enhanced ability for efficient photocatalysis under visible light. [43] Chaudharye tal. [46] show that the efficiency of TiO 2 /MWCNTsi nt he photocatalytic degradationo fM Bi s3a nd 6.7 times highert han that of bareT iO 2 under UV and visible light, respectively.Z hang et al describe the use of TiO 2 @MWCNT hybridsw ith different MWCNT contentsa sp hotocatalystsf or the decomposition of organic dyes (i.e.,M Ba nd RhB) [44] (Figure 3).…”

Smart Nanocontainers: Preparation, Loading/Release Processes and Applications

“…Air remediation under visible light irradiation could be obtained by using TiO 2 /CNTs nanohybrids [129,130].…”