Electrospun Ag-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers for Photocatalytic Glucose Conversion to High-Value Chemicals
Published on 2020-03-11T08:34:37Z (GMT)
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TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers were fabricated by combination of sol–gel
and electrospinning techniques. Ag-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers
with different Ag contents were prepared by two different methods
(<i>in situ</i> electrospinning or wetness impregnation
of Ag on TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers) and heat treated at 500 °C
for 2 h under an air or N<sub>2</sub> atmosphere. The obtained catalysts
were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy,
X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, and N<sub>2</sub> adsorption
analyzed by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method.
Photocatalytic glucose conversions with electrospun TiO<sub>2</sub> and Ag-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers for production of high-value
products were carried out. From different doping methods, the results
indicated that 1 wt % Ag-TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers prepared by an <i>in situ</i> method with calcination under N<sub>2</sub> achieved
the highest glucose conversion (85.49%). From several Ag loading contents
(i.e., 0, 1, 2, and 4 wt %) in Ag-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers,
the nanofibers exhibited different glucose conversions [in order of
2 wt % (99.65%) > 1 wt % (85.49%) > 4 wt % (77.72%) > 0 wt
% (29.64%)]. Arabinose, xylitol, gluconic acid, and formic acid were
found as the high-value chemicals with the photocatalytic reaction
of TiO<sub>2</sub> and Ag-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers under UVA
irradiation. Product yields of each converted chemicals from different
photocatalysts from different Ag loading contents showed relatively
same trends with the glucose conversion. From all results, it can
be concluded that the good characteristics of 2 wt % Ag-TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers such as the smallest anatase crystallite size (8.25 nm)
and the highest specific surface area (<i>S</i><sub>BET</sub> = 53.69 m<sup>2</sup>/g) promoted the highest photocatalytic activity.
Additionally, TiO<sub>2</sub> and Ag-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers
exhibited higher photocatalytic performance for glucose conversion
than commercial TiO<sub>2</sub> (P25) and synthesized TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. Finally, Ag-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers showed
recycling ability with high photocatalytic glucose conversion after
four-time use.
Cite this collection
Roongraung, Kamonchanok; Chuangchote, Surawut; Laosiripojana, Navadol; Sagawa, Takashi (2020): Electrospun Ag-TiO2 Nanofibers for Photocatalytic Glucose
Conversion to High-Value Chemicals. ACS Publications. Collection. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b04076