Titanium dioxide fibers prepared from two novel polytitanium precursors containing linear Ti–OH–Ti chains applied for photocatalytic degradation

• Two novel precursor fibers were prepared, which were continuous.
• The crystalline phase of TiO2 fibers is anatase.
• The diameters of TiO2–PAT and TiO2–PET fibers are 2–5 and 10–20 μm, respectively.
• The grains of TiO2 fibers tend to pack closely together.
• The TiO2 fibers exhibit fine photocatalytic degradation activities.

Two novel precursor fibers named polyacetylacetonatotitanium (PAT) and polyacetictitanium (PET) were prepared by a sol–gel method combined with dry-spinning technique. Polycrystalline TiO2 fibers were successfully obtained from the two precursor fibers after sintering at 500 °C with steam treatment. Both PAT and PET fibers were easily collected. PAT fiber is light yellow and transparent. PET fiber is yellowish white and translucent. The crystalline phase of TiO2 fibers is anatase and the diameters are 2–5 μm (TiO2–PAT) and 10–20 μm (TiO2–PET). Meanwhile, the grains of the fibers tend to pack closely together and the diameter of the pores in the fibers is several nanometers. The TiO2 fibers exhibit better photocatalytic degradation activities compared with P25.