Photocatalytic actives of PVDF/TiO2 produced by solution blow spinning with silver nanoparticles adsorbed on the surface

Abstract

An efficient method for manufacturing nano-submicron PVDF/TiO₂ fibers was developed by solution blow spinning and subsequent incorporation of silver nanoparticles. In this work, we tried to use Ag particles prepared by the reduction of AgNO₃ with NaBH₄ in solution to increase the photocatalytic activity of the membrane; the nanoparticles remained on the surface of the PVDF/TiO₂ fibers after the bath. The SEM image shows transparent fibers with Ag nanoparticles coated along the entire fiber. XRD revealed the anatase and rutile phases and the metallic form of Ag, and XPS confirmed Ti and O as well as Ag. In the presence of silver nanoparticles, fibers showed a significant increase in dye degradation, and excess silver was also observed to decrease photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the fibers show promise as antibacterial agents.