Preparation of TiO2 nanotubes coated on polyurethane and study of their photocatalytic activity

TiO2 nanotubes have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method and their surface has been effectively modified with silane coupling agents. TiO2 nanotubes-polyurethane photocatalytic composites were then successfully synthesized through a series of activation reactions using polyurethane (PU) membrane as a solid carrier. All of these products have been characterized and identified by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The results have shown that the TiO2 nanotubes treated by silicon alkylation could efficiently combine with the solid carrier (PU) and that the surface multilayer structure was very stable and compact. In addition, the new composite showed very good photocatalytic activity and was recyclable, which was demonstrated by the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B. V.