Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater

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...

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Main Authors: Lee, Siew Siang, Bai, Hongwei, Liu, Zhaoyang, Sun, Darren Delai
Other Authors: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2013
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80040
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/17799
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-800402020-03-07T11:43:31Z Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater Lee, Siew Siang Bai, Hongwei Liu, Zhaoyang Sun, Darren Delai School of Civil and Environmental Engineering DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Water treatment 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. NRF (Natl Research Foundation, S’pore) Accepted version 2013-11-19T07:13:16Z 2019-12-06T13:39:15Z 2013-11-19T07:13:16Z 2019-12-06T13:39:15Z 2013 2013 Journal Article Lee, S. S., Bai, H., Liu, Z., & Sun, D. D. (2013). Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater. Water Research, 47(12), 4059-4073. 0043-1354 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80040 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/17799 10.1016/j.watres.2012.12.044 en Water research © 2013 Elsevier. This is the author created version of a work that has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by Water Research, Elsevier. It incorporates referee’s comments but changes resulting from the publishing process, such as copyediting, structural formatting, may not be reflected in this document. The published version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.12.044 46 p. application/pdf
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
country Singapore
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Water treatment
spellingShingle DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Water treatment
Lee, Siew Siang
Bai, Hongwei
Liu, Zhaoyang
Sun, Darren Delai
Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater
description 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.
author2 School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
author_facet School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Lee, Siew Siang
Bai, Hongwei
Liu, Zhaoyang
Sun, Darren Delai
format Article
author Lee, Siew Siang
Bai, Hongwei
Liu, Zhaoyang
Sun, Darren Delai
author_sort Lee, Siew Siang
title Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater
title_short Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater
title_full Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater
title_fullStr Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater
title_full_unstemmed Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater
title_sort novel-structured electrospun tio2/cuo composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater
publishDate 2013
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80040
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/17799
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