Photocatalytic activity of titania fibers obtained by electrospinning

Composite fibers of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and titanium isopropoxide were prepared in this study using the electrospinning technique. Titanium oxide fibers were obtained after subsequent heat treatment at high temperatures. The photocatalytic activity of these fibers is reported herein. The fibers were characterized using the BET model, thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the titania fibers was investigated using ultraviolet-visible absorbance by following the photooxidative decomposition of methylene blue in comparison to the reference TiO2 powder Degussa P25. The temperature of heat treatment, the crystalline structure, and the surface area affected the physical and chemical properties of the as-synthesized titania fibers. Increasing the temperature of heat treatment resulted in a decrease in both the fraction of anatase phase and the surface area, thereby leading to reduced photocatalytic activity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.