Recent advances and remaining barriers to the development of electrospun nanofiber and nanofiber composites for point-of-use and point-of-entry water treatment systems

Electrospun TiO2/carbon composite nanofibers as effective (photo)electrodes for removal and transformation of recalcitrant water contaminants

“…25,26 To date, common electrode materials include noble metals, metal oxides (e.g., tungsten, titanium, bismuth, iron) and mixed metal oxides (MMO), graphite, and boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. 21,[27][28][29] Integrating a co-catalyst or photocatalyst in these materials can expand applications to PEC systems. [29][30][31][32] More recent efforts have focused on further developing engineered nanomaterials for use in EC and PEC systems to take advantage of the large surface area to volume ratios, enhanced mass transfer, and improved control of electron ow (i.e., product selectivity).…”

“…35,36 Moreover, CNF composites that include secondary components (e.g., a nanoparticle semiconductor) can also be fabricated to introduce properties not realized in carbon-only materials (e.g., photoactivity). 28 Although some studies with composite CNF electrodes have demonstrated efficient transformation of environmental pollutants in EC and PEC systems, many prior studies have focused on pollutant targets of limited relevance to emerging water treatment needs (e.g., targeting dyes at high concentrations), 28 have been fabricated using toxic materials not suitable for water treatment, 27 or employ electrodes and catalysts that may be cost prohibitive (e.g. BDD, platinum group metals).…”