Synthesis and characterization of a novel nanofibrous TiO2/SiO2 composite with enhanced photocatalytic activity

TiO2/chrysotile-based silica nanofibers composites (TiO2/SiO(2)NFs) were synthesized for the first time via a modified sol-gel method combining layer self-assembly procedure. In the composite, TiO2 nano particles are anatase structured and evenly dispersed without agglomeration on the surface of SiO(2)NFs in the form of monolayer. Compared to the commercial TiO2 (P25) and TiO2 prepared by similar sol-gel method, the TiO2/SiO(2)NFs composite exhibits much higher photocatalytic activity. The SiO(2)NFs in the composite not only provide a large adsorption capacity substrate, but also make TiO2 particles formed a well-dispersed monolayer to provide larger photocatalytic reaction surface area, resulting in the significantly increasing of photocatalytic activity. It is also found the TiO2/SiO(2)NFs prepared under 800 degrees C exhibits best photocatalytic activity due to the relatively optimum anatase crystalline phase fraction and crystallinity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.