Photocatalytic Activity and Filtration Performance of Hybrid TiO-Cellulose Acetate Nanofibers for Air Filter Applications.

A facile method to prepare hybrid cellulose acetate nanofibers containing TiO (TiO-CA nanofibers) by emulsion electrospinning technique was developed for the denitrification and filtration of particulate matters (PMs). This work found that hybrid TiO-CA nanofibers mainly contain the anatase form of TiO, contributing to the photodecomposition of NO gas under UV irradiation. The TiO-CA nanofibers also showed an excellent filtration efficiency of 99.5% for PM and a photocatalytic efficiency of 78.6% for NO removal. Furthermore, the results implied that the morphology of the TiO-CA nanofibers, such as micro-wrinkles and protrusions, increased the surface hydrophobicity up to 140°, with the increased addition of TiO nanoparticles. The proposed TiO-CA nanofibers, as a result, would be promising materials for highly efficient and sustainable air filters for industrial and home appliance systems.