Anatase TiO2/cellulose hybrid paper: Synthesis, characterizations, and photocatalytic activity for degradation of indigo carmine dye

We report a facile easy method to deposit anatase titania (TiO2) on cellulose paper. The anatase TiO2/cellulose paper (ATCP) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. This hybrid paper with the anatase TiO2 content of around 13.86 wt.% can serve as an eco-friendly flexible photocatalyst, which can rapidly degrade blue indigo carmine dye into a colorless solution within 30 min under UV radiation. Moreover, compared to commercially available TiO2 P25 and anatase TiO2 powder, a faster decomposition rate of indigo carmine dye was acquired when using ATCP. These results suggest that this hybrid paper might be useful in the treatment of organic dye wastewater.