Enhanced degradation of methylene blue dye using flexible SiO2–TiO2 nanofiber membranes

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely regarded as one of the most extensively applied photocatalytic semiconductor materials. However, conventional powdered titanium dioxide exhibits certain limitations, including relatively weak light absorption capability, a small surface area and insufficient active sites. This study successfully prepared flexible and porous silicon dioxide (SiO2)–titanium dioxide nanofiber membranes (NFMs) by implementing electrospinning technology and calcination processes. The porous membranes demonstrate remarkable performance in water treatment, featuring a high specific surface area (49 m2/g) and porosity, enabling efficient adsorption and removal of organic pollutants in water. Remarkably, the NFMs-800 variant exhibits outstanding photocatalytic performance, achieving complete removal of adsorbed organic compounds under ultraviolet irradiation. The design and fabrication methods of this porous membrane are simple and scalable, providing a potential solution for practical water-treatment applications. Consequently, the silicon dioxide–titanium dioxide porous membrane holds significant prospects in the field of water treatment, offering a promising contribution to the attainment of efficient and sustainable water resource management.