Photocatalytic Activity and Filtration Performance of Hybrid TiO2-Cellulose Acetate Nanofibers for Air Filter Applications

Abstract A facile method to prepare hybrid cellulose acetate nanofibers containing TiO2 (TiO2 -CA nanofiber) by emulsion electrospinning technique was developed for denitrification and the filtration of particulate matters (PMs). This work found that hybrid TiO2-CA nanofibers mainly contain the anatase form of TiO2, attributing to the photodecomposition of NO gas under UV irradiation. TiO2-CA nanofibers also showed excellent filtration efficiency of 99.5% for PM0.5 and photocatalytic efficiency of 78.6% for NO removal. Furthermore, the results implied the morphology of TiO2-CA nanofibers, such as micro-wrinkles and protrusions, increased the surface hydrophobicity up to 140° with increased addition of TiO2 nanoparticles. The proposed TiO2-CA nanofibers, as a result, would be promising materials of highly efficient and sustainable air filters for industrial and home appliance systems.