title: Luffa-sponge-like glass-TiO2 composite fibers as efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation.
abstract: Structural design of photocatalysts is of great technological importance for practical applications. A rational design of architecture can not only promote the synthetic performance of photocatalysts but also bring convenience in their application procedure. Nanofibers have been established as one of the most ideal architectures of photocatalysts. However, simultaneous optimization of the photocatalytic efficiency, mechanical strength, and thermal/chemical tolerance of nanofibrous photocatalysts remains a big challenge. Here, we demonstrate a novel design of TiO2-SiO2 composite fiber as an efficient photocatalyst with excellent synthetic performance. Core-shell mesoporous SiO2 fiber with high flexibility was employed as the backbone for supporting ultrasmall TiO2 nanowhiskers of the anatase phase, constructing core@double-shell fiber with luffa-sponge-like appearance. Benefitting from their continuously long fibrous morphology, highly porous structure, and completely inorganic nature, the TiO2-SiO2 composite fibers simultaneously possess high photocatalytic reactivity, good flexibility, and excellent thermal and chemical stability. This novel architecture of TiO2-SiO2 glass composite fiber may find extensive use in the environment remediation applications.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Wushan Road No. 381, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510640, China.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Weibo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhongliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xuanzhao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Mingying
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Guoping
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Shifeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qinyuan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhongmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D005898:Glass; D007700:Kinetics; D029776:Luffa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D049329:Nanostructures; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D044367:Phase Transition; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; C009495:titanium dioxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014025:Titanium