Solar-Powered Photodegradation of Pollutant Dyes Using Silver-Embedded Porous TiO₂ Nanofibers

• Main Authors: Jerry Zhi Xiong Heng, Karen Yuanting Tang, Michelle D. Regulacio, Ming Lin, Xian Jun Loh, Zibiao Li, Enyi Ye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: photocatalytic oxidation; degradation of organic dye pollutants; localized surface plasmon resonance effect; heterogenous catalysis; hybrid nanocomposites; mesoporous TiO₂
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/4/856

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanomaterials have been ubiquitously investigated as a photocatalyst for organic contaminant treatment in wastewater due to their exemplary semiconductor properties. However, their huge band gap remains a barrier for visible light absorption, limiting their utility in practical applications. The incorporation of noble metals in the TiO₂ scaffold would help mitigate the problem via plasmonic resonance enhancements. Silver (Ag) is the chosen noble metal as it is relatively cheap and has great plasmonic effects. In this study, the use of electrospun Ag-embedded TiO₂ nanofibers as a photocatalyst is shown to be effective in decomposing rhodamine B and methyl orange dyes under a solar simulator in 3 h, which is more efficacious as opposed to pristine TiO₂ nanofibers. This showcases the potential of a simple and economic wastewater treatment system for the removal of organic pollutants.