title: Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater.
abstract: It is still a challenge to photocatalytically cogenerate clean water and energy from dye wastewater owing to the relatively low photocatalytic efficiency of photocatalysts. In this study, novel-structured TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers were successfully fabricated via facile electrospinning. For the first time, the TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers demonstrated multifunctional ability for concurrent photocatalytic organic degradation and H2 generation from dye wastewater. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers was ascribed to its excellent synergy of physicochemical properties: 1) mesoporosity and large specific surface area for efficient substrate adsorption, mass transfer and light harvesting; 2) red-shift of the absorbance spectra for enhanced light utilization; 3) long nanofibrous structure for efficient charge transfer and ease of recovery, 4) TiO2/CuO heterojunctions which enhance the separation of electrons and holes and 5) presence of CuO which serve as co-catalyst for the H2 production. The TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers also exhibited rapid settleability by gravity and uncompromised reusability. Thus, the as-synthesized TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers represent a promising candidate for highly efficient concurrent photocatalytic organic degradation and clean energy production from dye wastewater.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Siew Siang
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Zhaoyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Darren Delai
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D016062:Porosity; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003300:Copper; D006859:Hydrogen; D014025:Titanium; D062065:Wastewater; C009495:titanium dioxide; C014722:2-naphthol orange; C030973:cupric oxide