Solar-Powered Photodegradation of Pollutant Dyes Using Silver-Embedded Porous TiO2 Nanofibers

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials have been ubiquitously investigated as a photocatalyst for organic contaminant treatment in wastewater due to their exemplary semiconductor properties. However, their huge band gap remains a barrier for visible light absorption, limiting their utility in practical applications. The incorporation of noble metals in the TiO2 scaffold would help mitigate the problem via plasmonic resonance enhancements. Silver (Ag) is the chosen noble metal as it is relatively cheap and has great plasmonic effects. In this study, the use of electrospun Ag-embedded TiO2 nanofibers as a photocatalyst is shown to be effective in decomposing rhodamine B and methyl orange dyes under a solar simulator in 3 h, which is more efficacious as opposed to pristine TiO2 nanofibers. This showcases the potential of a simple and economic wastewater treatment system for the removal of organic pollutants.

Automated summary

The incorporation of noble metals like silver in TiO2 nanomaterials shows potential for enhancing photocatalytic activity for organic contaminant treatment in wastewater. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of electrospun Ag-embedded TiO2 nanofibers in decomposing dyes under simulated solar light, highlighting their practical applications in wastewater treatment systems.