Solution- and air-recoverable photocatalytic nanofibers by facile and cost-effective electrospinning and co-precipitation processes

While nanostructured materials are of particular academic and practical interest, their recoverability and recyclability have been of paramount industrial and environmental concerns. In the present contribution, co-precipitation was demonstrated as a facile and cost-effective approach to incorporate magnetic sensitivity and enhance the recoverability of nanofibrous materials which were frequently utilized in catalysis, energy and medical applications, etc. In particular, reusable magnetic and photocatalytic hybrid nanofibers were generated by electrospinning and co-precipitation method. First, TiO2 nanofibers were prepared through sol–gel reaction and electrospinning process. To improve their recoverability, CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were decorated onto the nanofibers' surfaces via co-precipitation of cobalt and iron ions in the presence of the nanofibers suspension. Furthermore, the resulting CoFe2O4-decorated TiO2 nanofibers maintained their photocatalytic activity after the modification. When suspended in a solution or spread on a dried surfaces, these nanofibers could be recollected with a magnet. These findings suggested that incorporation of ferromagnetic into the nanofibers maintained their photocatalytic performance and reduced production cost as well as the risk of human and environmental exposure through solution and air.

► Recoverable and photocatalytic nanofibers were synthesized. ► CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were precipitated onto TiO2 nanofibers' surfaces. ► The hybrid nanofibers remained photocatalytic after modification. ► The hybrid nanofibers could be recollected with a magnet.