Electrospun silk fibroin/TiO₂ mats. Preparation, characterization and efficiency for the photocatalytic solar treatment of pesticide polluted water

Abstract

The photocatalytic properties of silk fibroin (SF) incorporating TiO2 nanoparticles using an electrospinning technique were examined.

Photocatalytic Performance of Electrospun Silk Fibroin/ZnO Mats to Remove Pesticide Residues from Water under Natural Sunlight

“…In addition, EDX analysis (Figure 2G) showed the presence of Zn with C in the sample supporting the elemental mapping and XPS data that Zn surface coverage was almost complete. The SEM image of the TiO2 coated SF also showed a cluster of aggregates of TiO2 deposited on the SF [39]. These clustered aggregates cannot be broken down into smaller particles by physical processing.…”

“…X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy Analysis (XDS) Characterization SF/TiO 2 and SF/ZnO samples were characterized following the methodology described by Fenoll et al [38]. The characterization of SF/TiO 2 samples was described in a previous paper [39]. In the case of SF/ZnO samples, the X-ray diffractograms are showed in Figure 1.…”

Silkworm and spider silk electrospinning: a review

“…The mats were electrospun and atomized with the titanium dioxide, and their capacity to photocatalyze a selection of pesticides when placed in polluted water was assessed. Tests showed a promising photooxidation of the pesticides, and a good durability of the mats’ degradation rate in time, ensuring their reusability (Aznar-Cervantes et al 2020 ). In this application, silk provides an adequate support for TiO 2 , as the presence of TiO 2 in silk mats of films has also been observed to increase the crystallization of silk, tightening the meshes around the particles (Feng et al 2010 ).…”

Proanthocyanin‐Capped Biogenic TiO2 Nanoparticles with Enhanced Penetration, Antibacterial and ROS Mediated Inhibition of Bacteria Proliferation and Biofilm Formation: A Comparative Approach

“…[10][11][12] Recent reports suggestt hat the modulationo fT iO 2 nanomaterials as solari rradiation switched photocatalyst can be aw inning choicet oe fficiently circumnavigate the growing problem of accumulationo ft oxic pesticides (boscalid, hexythiazox, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin) in aqueous environments. [13] In water-based systems, the introduction of either pure (e.g.,T iCl 4 and TiO 2 )o rg raphene oxide (GO) modified forms of Ti (e.g.,T iO 2 -GO) could enhance sunlightc onversion and anti-fouling efficiency to develop photovoltaic devices and bacterialp roliferation controlling agents at laboratory scale, respectively. [14,15] Moreover,a natase TiO 2 nanosheets and its nanohybrids such as Au-TiO 2 and Pt-TiO 2 have shown excellent photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen.…”

“…Indeed, TiO 2 based nanostructures represent prolonged stability, environment safety, and cost‐effectiveness while being an excellent semiconductor, and a they can offer a wide range of alkali ion intercalating materials to serve as potential storage capacity [10–12] . Recent reports suggest that the modulation of TiO 2 nanomaterials as solar irradiation switched photocatalyst can be a winning choice to efficiently circumnavigate the growing problem of accumulation of toxic pesticides (boscalid, hexythiazox, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin) in aqueous environments [13] . In water‐based systems, the introduction of either pure (e.g., TiCl 4 and TiO 2 ) or graphene oxide (GO) modified forms of Ti (e.g., TiO 2 ‐GO) could enhance sunlight conversion and anti‐fouling efficiency to develop photovoltaic devices and bacterial proliferation controlling agents at laboratory scale, respectively [14, 15] .…”