Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T15:53:15.607Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Synthesis, Electron Microscopy and Photocatalytic Activity Studies of Hierarchical TiO2 Based Nanofiber Catalysts for Photocatalysis and Hydrogen-Generation Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2013

Srujan Mishra
Affiliation:
Department of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, U.S.A.
Scott. P. Ahrenkiel
Affiliation:
Department of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

A newly developed, focused-jet, vertical style electrospinning process was employed to synthesize nanofibers of TiO2 doped with 2% and 2.5% w/v Ag nanoparticles. The as-spun nanofibers were calcined at 510 °C for 24 h in a tube furnace, with a ramp-rate of 5 °C/min, to yield polycrystalline nanofibers. Structural characterization of the prepared nanofibers was done using HR-TEM operated at 200 kV. High-resolution lattice-fringe measurements showed the presence of a mixed-phase anatase and rutile TiO2 nanostructure along with elemental Ag nanoparticles. BET analysis showed an average specific surface-area of 18.31 m2/g for the catalyst nanofibers. To measure the photocatalytic activity, a model compound, rhodamine-B dye, was used. Experimental results showed decay rates of 10.64 x 10-3 min-1 and 12.32 x 10-3 min-1 for the decay of rhodamine-B dye by TiO2/2% Ag and TiO2/2.5% Ag nanoparticles respectively.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Kanjwal, M. A., Barakat, N. A. M., Sheikh, F. A., Baek, W. I., Khil, M. S., and Kim, H. Y., Fibers and Polymers 11(5), 700 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kanjwal, M. A., Barakat, N. A. M., Sheikh, F. A., Khil, M. S., and Kim, H. Y., Intl. J. Appl. Ceram. Tech. 7(1), E54 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mishra, S. and Ahrenkiel, S. P., J. Nanomater. 2012, 902491 (2012).Google Scholar
Mishra, S., Ahrenkiel, P., Shankar, R., and Whites, K. W., Microsc. Microanal. 17(Suppl. 2) (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Linsebigler, A. L., Lu, G., and Yates, J. T. Jr., Chem. Rev. 95(3), 735 (1995).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maeda, K. and Domen, K., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 1, 2655 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wu, M. C., Sápi, A., Avila, A., Szabó, M., Hiltunen, J., Huuhtanen, M., Tóth, G., Kukovecz, Á., Kónya, Z., Keiski, R., Su, W. F., Jantunen, H., and Kordás, K., Nano Res. 4(4), 360 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar