Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic activity of TiO2/SiO2 nanoparticles loaded on carbon nanofiber web.

TiO2/SiO2 catalysts were loaded on carbon nanofibers (CNF) support by sol-gel preparation and followed by a dip-coating and heat treatment up to 900 degrees C in inert atmosphere. The photocatalytic activities of the catalysts (TiO2/SiO2)/CNF were tested by the photocatalytic degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) under UV irradiation. It was found that (TiO2/SiO2)/CNF showed a higher photocatalytic activity than TiO2/CNF only. It was analyzed that SiO2 contributed to an increase the photo catalytic activity by suppressing the phase transformation of the TiO2 crystals from anatase to rutile on the heat treatment up to 900 degrees C.