Photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticle encapsulated poly(acrylonitrile) nanofibers

Inorganic semiconductor zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were embedded into an electro-spun hydrophobic Poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) nanofiber membrane. Electro spinning has allowed the formation of a nanofiber composite with an aspect ratio in the range of 1000. XRD and DSC analysis revealed that electro spinning has allowed high molecular orientation to the nanofiber composite with good physical interaction between nanoparticles and the fiber. SEM studies showed the average diameter of the fiber was in the range of 100-170 nm. SEM micrograph also revealed that the zinc oxide nanoparticles were embedded inside the nanofiber, with an average particle size of 35 nm. AFM images obtained for the nanofibers further confirmed nanoparticles were embedded inside the PAN nanofiber. UV-VIS spectroscopic studies showed that the composite can absorb UV light in the range of 200-350 nm. The stain removal property of the PAN/ZnO nanocomposite was analyzed using the color reduction of an organic stain solution Methyl Orange under UV A & B light. After photo exposure 95% color reduction was achieved using PAN/ZnO nanofiber composite whilst, only 20% color reduction was obtained for PAN nanofibers. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.