Titanium dioxide-coated nanofibers for advanced filters

Abstract

This article reports on titanium dioxide (TiO2)-coated nanofibers deposited on a filter surface by the electrospinning process. After depositing a micrometer-thick film of polyamide 11 nanofibers on polypropylene fabric, TiO2 nanoparticles can be directly electrosprayed onto the nanofibers. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy showed minimal change in the phase composition (anatase and rutile) and no change in the particle size of nanocrystalline TiO2 after coating. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that nanofibers were uniformly coated by titanium dioxide nanoparticles without agglomeration. TiO2-coated filters showed excellent photocatalytic-bactericidal activity and photo-induced hydrophilicity. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.