SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
Synthesis, characterization, organic compound degradation activity and antimicrobial performance of g-C3N4 sheets customized with metal nanoparticles-decorated TiO2 nanofibers†
Abstract
In this article, we discuss for the first time a simple and direct approach to fabricate multifunctional silver nanoparticles (NPs) decorated porous TiO2 nanofibers (NFs) interpolated on a thin and large g-C3N4 sheet by using a simple and efficient electrospinning–calcination process. An angled two-nozzle electrospinning process was used here, and the composite material that was produced has the large specific surface area of the NPs, the anisotropic properties of the NFs and distinctive optical and electronic properties of sheet-like structures, which is desirable for various applications. Different characterizations were examined using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and UV-visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy. The prepared composite showed excellent photocatalytic activity with visible light when compared with pristine TiO2 and g-C3N4 and single-component modified Ag/TiO2 and TiO2/g-C3N4 composites, as measured by the degradation of different organic dyes. Here, the large surface area g-C3N4 sheets provide the formation of ternary hetero-structures among the NPs, NFs and sheets, and encouraged electron transfer between them. Moreover, such a hybrid composite showed improved antibacterial properties against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
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