Fabrication of TiO2 nanofiber membranes by a simple dip-coating technique for water treatment

• Published in: Surface & coatings technology Vol. 298; pp. 45 - 52
• Main Authors: Zhang, Qi, Wang, Hua, Fan, Xinfei, Lv, Fenghe, Chen, Shuo, Quan, Xie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2016
• Subjects: Ceramic membranes; Coatings; Diffraction; Dip coatings; Humic acids; Membranes; Nanostructure; Photocatalysis; TiO2 nanofibers; Titanium dioxide; Water treatment; TiO2 nanofibers; Ceramic membranes; Water treatment; Photocatalysis
• ISSN: 0257-8972; 1879-3347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2016.04.054

A TiO2 nanofiber membrane was fabricated by coating TiO2 nanofibers on a ceramic hollow fiber membrane support using a simple dip-coating technique. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the TiO2 nanofibers uniformly cover the entire surface of the membrane, and the anatase crystal phase of TiO2 is present based on X-ray diffraction spectroscopy data. The TiO2 nanofiber membrane has a porosity of about 80% and a pure water flux of 1700L/(m2·h). Meanwhile, the performance of this TiO2 nanofiber membrane was evaluated using humic acid (HA) as a test substance, and a high HA removal of 90% is achieved. This approach provides a simple technique for fabricating photocatalytic membranes for water treatment. [Display omitted] •A functional membrane was fabricated by coating TiO2 nanofibers on a membrane.•The TiO2 nanofiber membrane has a pure water flux of 1700L/(m2·h).•A high humic acid removal of 90% is achieved.