Titania-doped silica fibers prepared by electrospinning and sol-gel process

Titania-doped silica fibers were prepared by electrospinning of the sol of silica containing titania. The electrospun fibers had ribbon type morphology. The fibers had significant quantities of hydroxyl groups of Si-OH and Ti-OH. The fibers did not have crystalline structure. Diameters of the fibers were reduced by solvent evaporation and calcination. The hydroxyl groups on the fibers disappeared by calcination. The hydroxyl groups, M OH (M=Si, Ti) were changed to M-O-M by intermolecular and intramolecular condensation reactions.