Issue 24, 2014

Enhanced photocatalytic CO2-reduction activity of electrospun mesoporous TiO2 nanofibers by solvothermal treatment

Abstract

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into renewable hydrocarbon fuels using semiconductor photocatalysts is considered as a potential solution to the energy deficiency and greenhouse effect. In this work, mesoporous TiO2 nanofibers with high specific surface areas and abundant surface hydroxyl groups are prepared using an electrospinning strategy combined with a subsequent calcination process, followed by a solvothermal treatment. The solvothermally treated mesoporous TiO2 nanofibers exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance on CO2 reduction into hydrocarbon fuels. The significantly improved photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the enhanced CO2 adsorption capacity and the improved charge separation after solvothermal treatment. The highest activity is achieved for the sample with a 2-h solvothermal treatment, showing 6- and 25-fold higher CH4 production rate than those of TiO2 nanofibers without solvothermal treatment and P25, respectively. This work may also provide a prototype for studying the effect of solvothermal treatment on the structure and photocatalytic activity of semiconductor photocatalysts.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced photocatalytic CO2-reduction activity of electrospun mesoporous TiO2 nanofibers by solvothermal treatment

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Jan 2014
Accepted
24 Mar 2014
First published
25 Mar 2014

Dalton Trans., 2014,43, 9158-9165

Enhanced photocatalytic CO2-reduction activity of electrospun mesoporous TiO2 nanofibers by solvothermal treatment

J. Fu, S. Cao, J. Yu, J. Low and Y. Lei, Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 9158 DOI: 10.1039/C4DT00181H

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