Photocatalytic TiO2–RGO/nylon-6 spider-wave-like nano-nets via electrospinning and hydrothermal treatment

A new route for the formation of reusable photocatalytic TiO2 (P25)-reduced graphene oxide/nylon-6 (P25-RGO/nylon-6) composite filter membrane using electrospinning and hydrothermal techniques is being reported. Addition of small amount of graphene oxide (GO) into nylon-6 solution prior to electrospinning was able to cause the formation of a large-scale uniform bimodal fibers with distributed thick (≈200 nm) and thin (≈13 nm) fiber diameters in spider-wave-like nano-nets by electrospinning, and facilitated the deposition of P25 NPs during its reduction at the time of hydrothermal treatment. Different analyses confirmed that GO was successfully incorporated into the electrospun nylon-6 fibers and simultaneous reduction of GO as well as deposition of P25 NPs on the surface of fibers was possible during hydrothermal treatment. The photoactive property of the as-prepared nanocomposites was tested against methylene blue. The results showed that P25-RGO/nylon-6 nanocomposite mat is more effective than the TiO2/nylon-6 electrospun composite mat. The water flux at a given pressure of different mats was measured to find out the filter efficiency of the membranes. The as-prepared composite mat has great potentiality as an economically–friendly water filter media and reusable photocatalyst.

► TiO2–RGO/nylon-6 composite photocatalyst was prepared by facile two-steps approach.
► Simultaneous deposition TiO2 NPs and reduction of GO on nylon-6 fibers could provide chemically bonded composite.
► As-synthesized photocatalyst has good photocatalytic activity.
► Durability and reusability of composite can prevent from the lose catalyst.
► High aspect ratio spider-wave-like fiber formation mechanism was investigated.