Photocatalytic release of hydrogen from ammonia borane-complex using Ni(0)-doped TiO2/C electrospun nanofibers

Incorporation of the transition metals nanoparticles can strongly modify the physiochemical characteristics of the metal oxides nanostructures. In the literature, preparing this interesting class of materials was achieved by sophisticated processes. In the present study, Ni(0)-doped TiO2/C nanofibers were successfully prepared by simple, effective, high yield and low cost technique; electrospinning. Calcination of electrospun nanofiber mats composed of titanium isopropoxide, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and nickel acetate tetrahydrate in Ar/H2 atmosphere at 700 °C led to produce good morphology Ni(0)-doped TiO2/C nanofibers. The introduced nanofibers revealed distinct performance as a photocatalyst for ammonia-borane hydrolysis due to the synergistic effect of the individual compounds as well as improving the photocatalytic performance of TiO2. Typically, after 30 min (at 25 °C), the obtained hydrogen equivalent was 2.1 and 1.1 for Ni(0)-doped TiO2/C and TiO2/C nanofibers, respectively. Moreover, the introduced nanofibers behave as an efficient photocatalyst to remove the methylene blue (MB) dye from water. Overall, the present study might open a new avenue to prepare the metal-doped metal oxide nanofibers using simple strategy.

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► Single simple and effective process to fabricate Ni-doped TiO2 nanofibers.
► The introduced nanofibers have high chemical resistance due to graphite shelling.
► The nanofibers can photocatalytically release the hydrogen from ammonia borane.
► Fast and complete photodegradation for methyl blue dye was achieved.