Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using PMMA/TiO2 nanoparticles composites fibers obtained through centrifugal spinning

In this research work, using the Forcespinning (R) technique, composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) with TiO(2 )nanoparticles (PMMA/NPsTiO(2)) with different morphologies, spherical (NPs0D) and one-dimensional (NPs1D) were prepared. The compounds obtained were characterized through various analytical techniques, in order to evaluate their physicochemical, thermal, mechanical, surface, and structural properties. Likewise, the photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) of both composites was evaluated and compared. There were no representative changes in the viscosity of the systems due to the incorporation of the NPsTiO(2) resulting in fibers with average diameters without significant variation concerning the reference fibers. The incorporation of NPsTiO(2) produced an increase in the thermal stability of the materials, showing a more pronounced effect at a concentration of 3% NPs1D. The higher tensile strength (3.5 +/- 1.9 MPa) and Young's modulus (302.6 +/- 152.6 MPa) did not present a significant change in the presence of NPs0D but they decreased with the incorporation of the NPs1D as a consequence of fiber morphology and NPs distribution. MB photocatalytic degradation yield of 28.8% was obtained with the PMMA-based composites with NPs0D (PMMA/NPs0D) and 18.3% with the PMMA-based composite with NPs1D (PMMA/NPs1D), at a concentration of 5% by weight of NPs in both cases, at 4 h of irradiation.

Automated summary

In this research, composites based on poly(methyl methacrylate) with TiO(2) nanoparticles were prepared using the Forcespinning technique. The properties of the composites were characterized and evaluated. It was found that the incorporation of TiO(2) nanoparticles increased the thermal stability of the materials, but decreased the tensile strength and Young's modulus. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was more efficient in the composites with spherical nanoparticles compared to those with one-dimensional nanoparticles.