Photocatalytic Performance of TiO 2 Nanofibers as a Function of Fiber Diameter Using TiCl 2 as a Precursor

Abstract

We focus on the production of TiO 2 nanofibers with controllable diameters using a facile electrospinning technique at room temperature. The resulting nanofibers were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The most important electrospinning parameters including potential difference (kV), flow rate (mL/h), and the separation distance between electrodes (cm) were found to have significant influence on the diameter of the produced nanofibers. The photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 nanofibers was successfully demonstrated for decolorization of Rhodamine B (Rh.B) under UV light irradiation. It was found that fiber diameter has a crucial influence on the photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 nanofibers.