Bi-component inorganic oxide nanofibers from gas jet fiber spinning process

Abstract

Bi-component semiconducting metal oxide nanofibers with core–shell and side-by-side morphologies in mesoporous or solid cylindrical shapes are produced by gas-jet fiber process.

Mesoporous Titanium Dioxide Nanofibers with a Significantly Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

“…We first evaluated the morphology of nanofibers and the crystalline structures of TiO 2 . The nanofibers of TiO 2 were fabricated using sol–gel chemistry and the GJF spinning process from spinning solutions that contained polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) as reported previously . However, in the previous study, the effect of the calcination temperature on the nanofiber morphology and crystal structures of TiO 2 was not investigated.…”

“…The nanofibers of TiO 2 were fabricated using sol–gel chemistry and the GJF spinning process from spinning solutions that contained polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) as reported previously . However, in the previous study, the effect of the calcination temperature on the nanofiber morphology and crystal structures of TiO 2 was not investigated. A detailed description of polymer nanofiber fabrication by the GJF process shown in Figure a and b and Figures S1 and S2 is available elsewhere .…”

“…The individual solid cylindrical precursor polymer fibers appear smooth (Figure c) with diameters in the range of approximately 200–800 nm and a mean fiber diameter of approximately (520±248) nm. The TiO 2 nanofibers were of a much smaller diameter than the precursor fibers (Figure c) because of the loss of PVP and the organic groups from TTIP in the calcination process and the crystallization of titania . Representative SEM images of randomly distributed TiO 2 nanofibers derived from calcination at maximum temperatures of 500, 600, and 700 °C are shown in Figure d–f.…”

“… a) Schematic diagram of the GJF spinning process that shows b) liquid jet initiation. c) SEM image of the as‐spun precursor polymer fibers.…”

“…Therefore, the development of a simple and cost‐effective method for the fabrication of high‐quality TiO 2 nanofibers with enhanced photocatalytic properties is an attractive and challenging area of research. In this work, we evaluate TiO 2 nanofibers produced from a new, flexible gas jet fiber (GJF) spinning process . The GJF spinning process uses a high‐velocity expanding air jet to draw fibers from a homogeneous solution of a polymer and provides higher fiber production rates, at least 30 times higher compared to the rates observed for single‐nozzle electrospinning …”