Immobilization of Ag3PO4 nanoparticles on electrospun PAN nanofibers via surface oximation: Bifunctional composite membrane with enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) Vol. 45; pp. 277 - 286
• Main Authors: Panthi, Gopal, Park, Soo-Jin, Chae, Su-Hyeong, Kim, Tae-Woo, Chung, Hea-Jong, Hong, Seong-Tshool, Park, Mira, Kim, Hak-Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.01.2017; 한국공업화학회
• Subjects: Ag3PO4; Amidoxime groups; Composite nanofibers; Electrospinning; Photocatalyst; 화학공학; Electrospinning; Photocatalyst; Composite nanofibers; Ag3PO4; Amidoxime groups
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2016.09.035

[Display omitted] •Amidoxime nanofibrous membrane was prepared by chemical treatment of electrospun PAN nanofibrous membrane with NH2OH aqueous solution.•Amidoxime groups developed on PAN nanofibers were used to coordinate Ag+ ions, which on subsequent treatment with Na2HPO4 led to the formation of Ag3PO4/PAN composite nanofibers.•The combination of amidoxime functional groups and Ag3PO4 nanoparticles in to one system is an effective strategy to achieve enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity.•This fabrication strategy demonstrated convenient and cost effective approach to develop composite nanofibers particularly suitable for water treatment. Ag3PO4/PAN composite nanofibers have been fabricated by simple and low cost electrospinning technique followed by surface modification of PAN nanofibers with amidoxime (C(CN2)NOH) groups to utilize as anchoring sites for Ag+ ions through coordinate bonding. Subsequently, the coordinated Ag+ ions were allowed to react with PO43− ions in order to form Ag3PO4/PAN composite nanofibers. Thus obtained composites were characterized by FESEM, XRD, TEM, FTIR, XPS and UV–vis. Experimental results revealed that composite nanofibers prepared by reacting (C(CN2)NOH) functionalized PAN nanofibers with 0.02M solutions of AgNO3 and Na2HPO4 have higher efficiency towards the photodegradation and bactericidal activities under visible light.