In situ engineering of highly conductive TiO2/carbon heterostructure fibers for enhanced electrocatalytic degradation of water pollutants
Journal
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Journal Volume
429
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Abstract
Rational design of nanocomposite electrode materials with high conductivity, activity, and mechanical strength is critical in electrocatalysis. Herein, freestanding, flexible heteronanocomposites were fabricated in situ by carbonizing electrospun fibers with TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface for electrocatalytic degradation of water pollutants. The carbonization temperature was observed as a dominant parameter affecting the characteristics of the electrodes. As the carbonization temperature increased to 1000 °C, the conductivity of the electrode was significantly enhanced due to the high degree of graphitization (ID/IG ratio 1.10) and the dominant rutile phase. Additionally, the formation of TiO2 protrusions and the C-Ti heterostructure were observed at 1000 °C, which contributed to increasing the electrocatalytic activity. When 1.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) was employed, electrocatalytic experiments using the electrode achieved 90% degradation of crystal violet and 10.9–87.5% for an array of micropollutants. The electrical energy-per-order (EEO) for the removal of crystal violet was 0.7 kWh/m3/order, indicative of low-energy requirement. The efficient electrocatalytic activity can be ascribed to the fast electron transfer and the strong ability to generate hydroxyl radicals. Our findings expand efforts for the design of highly conductive heteronanocomposites in a facile in situ approach, providing a promising perspective for the energy-efficient electrocatalytic degradation of water pollutants. ? 2022 Elsevier B.V.
Subjects
Carbonized electrospun fibers
Electrocatalysis
Electrospinning
Heterostructure
Nanocomposite
Carbonization
Electrodes
Energy efficiency
Free radical reactions
Oxide minerals
TiO2 nanoparticles
Titanium dioxide
Water pollution
Water treatment
Carbonization temperatures
Carbonized electrospun fiber
Crystal violet
Electrocatalytic activity
Electrocatalytic degradations
Electrode material
Electrospun fibers
Nanocomposite electrodes
Rational design
Water pollutants
Nanocomposites
catalysis
catalyst
concentration (composition)
degradation
electrode
graphitization
in situ measurement
inorganic compound
nanocomposite
pollutant removal
temperature effect
water pollution
Type
journal article