Bio-inspired titanium dioxide film with extremely stable super-amphilicity

TiO2 nanofibers with diameters of 200–550 nm were obtained by high temperature calcinations of the as-electrospun tetrabutyl titanate (Ti(OC4H9)4)/polystyrene (PS) composite fibers prepared by sol–gel processing and electrospinning technique. The fiber films exhibit extremely stable super-amphilicity and self-cleaning properties. The wetting of both watery and oily liquid was observed even after the storage for 240 days in darkness or the contamination of organic compound. And the microstructure of the TiO2 fibers could be well controlled by different fabrication condition. In addition, the approach shown in this report solved the problem of the stability of the super-amphilicity of titanium dioxide, which very important for the real application.