TiO2macroscopic fibers with enhanced photocatalytic properties obtained through a scale-up semi-industrial process

Abstract

We describe the generation and properties of TiO2-based macroscopic fibers designed for the photodecomposition of volatile organic compounds (VOC). We made use of a continuous industrially scalable extrusion process employing hybrid sols of amorphous titania nanoparticles, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and optionally latex nanoparticles. This process allowed for the continuous generation of hybrid TiO2/latex/PVA or TiO2/PVA macroscopic fibers. Upon thermal treatment in air, we obtained biphasic porous fibers containing the anatase phase of TiO2with 10-15% of brookite. These fibers, which can be manufactured as several hundred meters of length reels, provide significantly improved phototocatalytic efficiency compared to our previous work. Their efficiency is now comparable to the commercial Quartzel®PCO photocatalyst for gas-phase acetone mineralization.