Ice rock-resembling PHB thin films doped with TiO2 NPs as photocatalyst

Abstract

This study is to evaluate the performance of TiO2 as a photocatalyst for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in different concentrations. Five different concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles (0.001–0.005 wt%) have been added to PHB blend to produce modified PHB films. The conducting characterizations using FTIR, UV, SEM and optical microscope confirmed the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 on the surface of PHB films. The SEM analyses after irradiation reports show that the PHB thin films doped with different concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles have piece of ice rock-resembling structure nature with heterogeneous surface morphology. After irradiation, the photodecomposition rate constant showed the highest value in the presence of TiO2 with concentration (0.005 wt%). Therefore, TiO2 nanoparticles, in particular high concentration (0.005 wt%), are considered as a photocatalyst for PHB films (30 μm thickness) photodegradation.