Hierarchical nanofibrous anatase-titania-cellulose composite and its photocatalytic property

A hierarchical structured nanofibrous anatase-titania-cellulose composite was obtained by hydrothermal treatment of ultrathin titania gel film pre-coated nanofibres in a bulk cellulosic substance (common commercial filter paper). The initial titania gel films were transformed to anatase nanoparticles evenly deposited on the surface of each cellulose nanofibre. The resulting anatase-titania-cellulose composite maintained the initial hierarchical network structure of the filter paper. The diameters of the anatase titania nanoparticles anchored on the surface of the cellulose nanofibres varied from 20 nm to 50 nm. The hierarchical structured nanofibrous anatase-titania-cellulose composite shows significant photocatalytic performance towards degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange aqueous solutions under UV light irradiation. Moreover, the methylene blue which was directly dropped onto the surface of the anatase-titania-cellulose composite sheet was found to be decomposed after 1 h outdoor sunlight irradiation.