Preparation and photocatalysis of TiO2–fluoropolymer electrospun fiber nanocomposites

The preparation and photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2)–fluoropolymer fiber nanocomposites were studied. The fluoropolymer nanofibers with carboxyl group were prepared by electrospinning. The complex was formed between carboxyl on fluoropolymer electrospun fiber surface and titanium ion, and then the TiO2 nanoparticles were immobilized on the surface of fluoropolymer electrospun fibers through hydrothermal complex-precipitation. By controlling the reaction conditions, different sizes and numbers of TiO2 nanocrystals can be obtained. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results reveal that an interaction exists between TiO2 and fluoropolymer fibers. The degradation of methylene blue solution is performed by TiO2–fluoropolymer fiber nanocomposites under UV irradiation. There may be an adsorption–migration–photodegradation process during the degradation of methylene blue by using TiO2–fluoropolymer fiber nanocomposites as photocatalyst. The experimental results show that the TiO2–fluoropolymer fiber nanocomposites have good photocatalytic ability, recycling and stability for the potential applicability in an environmental remediation.