Core@dual-Shell Nanoporous SiO2–TiO2 Composite Fibers with High Flexibility and Its Photocatalytic Activity

Structural design is of great importance to the performance of photocatalysts in environmental remediation. Therefore, micro/nanofibrous morphology and nanoporous local structures have been found to be beneficial to improve the photocatalytic activity. In this investigation, we report the design and fabrication of flexible and thermal stable nanoporous SiO 2 –TiO 2 composite fibers as efficient photocatalysts. Combining electrospinning and modified Stöber techniques, core-shell and mesoporous SiO 2 fibers with high flexibility were fabricated and employed as the scaffold for supporting TiO 2 nanoparticles. A nanoporous shell of TiO 2 nanoparticles was then muffled over the SiO 2 fibers to form core@dual-shell SiO 2 –TiO 2 composite fibers with hierarchically porous structure, which were conveniently patterned into a nonwoven, recyclable film. This nonwoven film exhibits better photocatalytic activity for Rhodamine B degradation under UV irradiation compared with some other TiO 2 -based materials reported in recent years.