Photocatalytic performance of textiles coated with titanium dioxide-reduced graphene oxide system for degradation of crude petroleum under similar solar irradiation

Abstract

The pollution caused by oil and its toxic derivatives presents a considerable risk to the public health and the environment. This work is devoted to the study of the influence of TiO 2 nanoparticles immobilized on three types of textiles materials (Cotton, Entretela, and Polylactic Acid-PLA) coated with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to be used for degradation of crude petroleum under simulated solar irradiation. The morphological studies of the functionalized textiles substrates were performed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, which indicated an excellent dispersion and adhesion of nanoparticles of about 60% (atomic %Ti) on the textile fibers covered with RGO after washing. Ultraviolet-visible Diffuse Reflectance spectra suggest a reduction in the band gap energy of TiO 2 up to 2.86 eV due to the presence of RGO. The functionalized textiles presented at least 60% of photocatalytic efficiency measured by Rhodamine B degradation, decreasing less than 12% after the rigorous washing. The excitation/emission Synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopies demonstrated a great potential for photocatalytic degradation of the functionalized textiles substrates as the appearance of the hydroxyl, carboxyl, and the C-O bands confirm the photoinduced oxidation of the organic compounds implying with high prospects in petroleum and wastewater treatment areas. Moreover, this environmentally friendly, sustainable, and inclusive research work can be

Dual-Driven Functional Fabric with High Electrothermal and Photothermal Conversion Efficiency Modified by CuS Nanoparticles

“…Till date, functionalization of textiles has been achieved by embedding or depositing active materials, conductive polymers, 4 carbon-based materials, 5 metals, 6 and semiconductor compounds. 7 Among these materials, copper sulfide (CuS) is one of the most promising active materials for textile substrate functionalization owing to its numerous copper vacancies, a wide and stable absorption band, and low cost of fabrication. Because of their unique micro/nano multistage structure and advantages, nanofiber bundle fabrics are considered as ideal substrates, which make them extensively used in biomedical, 8,9 sensor, 10,11 personal thermal management, 12 energy storage, 13,14 and other fields.…”

“…As we know, most textiles are electric insulators and phonon insensitive, so they cannot be directly used as electrically heated or optically heated fabrics. Till date, functionalization of textiles has been achieved by embedding or depositing active materials, conductive polymers, carbon-based materials, metals, and semiconductor compounds . Among these materials, copper sulfide (CuS) is one of the most promising active materials for textile substrate functionalization owing to its numerous copper vacancies, a wide and stable absorption band, and low cost of fabrication.…”