The effects of atmosphere and calcined temperature on photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanofibers prepared by electrospinning

TiO2-based nanofibers were synthesized using a sol-gel method and electrospinning technique. The as-spun composite fibers were heat-treated at different temperatures (500A degrees C, 550A degrees C, 600A degrees C, and 650A degrees C) and atmospheres (ammonia and nitrogen) for 4 h. The fibers had diameters of 50 to 200 nm and mainly featured anatase and rutile phases. The anatase phase decreased and the rutile phase increased with increasing temperature. Different nitrogen conditions exerted minimal effects on the TiO2 crystalline phase. Different nitriding atmospheres during preservation heating yielded various effects on fibers. The effect of nitrogen in ammonia atmosphere is better than that in nitrogen atmosphere. The fibers heat-treated at 600A degrees C and subjected to preservation heating in NH3 showed high photocatalytic activity.