Effect of Mixed-Phase TiO₂/PVA Nanofibers on the Degradation on Methyl Orange

Abstract:

We report on the synthesis of nanostructured TiO₂ for various structural phases and observed the rate of degradation of methyl orange (MO) upon UV irradiation. Mixed phase nanocrystalline TiO₂ at temperature of 800°C shows higher rate of degradation of MO with the rate of 0.0203/min compared to other phases. This rate corresponds to the percentage of MO degradation of 58.85%, 71.69%, 86.25% and 91.82% for duration of 30, 60, 90 and 120 min of UV irradiations, respectively. The TiO₂ powder was prepared using titanium (IV) butoxide as the precursor via sol gel process. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The rate of degradation of MO after UV exposure was measured using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The first order reaction rate constants (k_app) of anatase; mixed-phase; and rutile phases were 0.0130, 0.0203 and 0.0029, respectively, which shows that mixed-phase TiO₂ has higher k_app value indicating higher rate of degradation. The PVA/TiO₂ nanofibers were produced via electrospinning technique and similar tests on the nanofibers were conducted.Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) indicates significant presence of TiO₂ is in nanofibers and the average diameter of the nanofibers was 600 nm.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1107)
• Pages: 353-358
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1107.353
• Online since: June 2015
• Authors: Norizan Mohammed Lot*, S. Nafisah Md. Rashid, Umi Sarah Jais, M. Kamil Abd Rahman
• Keywords: Mixed Phase, Nanofiber, Photocatalytic Activity, PVA/TiO₂, TiO₂

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