Binderless incorporation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles into glass fibres via a straightforward alkali treatment

Abstract

The utilization of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) as a photocatalyst is widespread in materials chemistry; however, handling this material in powder form poses significant challenges. Therefore, it becomes imperative to process TiO₂ into inorganic sheets with improved stability and ease of handling. In this study, a glass fibre cloth was utilized as an inorganic support, and TiO₂ nanoparticles were integrated onto the glass fibre surface without employing binders. This integration was accomplished by treating the fibre with a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at 60°C for 24 h. The NaOH treatment dissolved the fibre surface, forming a flower-like structure that facilitated the integration of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The resulting glass fibre cloth, embedded with TiO₂ nanoparticles, efficiently adsorbed and decomposed acetaldehyde gas. Further enhancement was achieved by subjecting the glass fibre cloth to heat treatment after the ammonium chloride treatment, leading to improved crystallinity and photocatalytic activity of TiO₂. Using the glass fibre cloth as an inorganic substrate for TiO₂ nanoparticles is promising for the fabrication of durable and high-performance photocatalysts with superior adsorption properties. Moreover, this technique offers a practical solution to the challenges associated with handling and processing TiO₂ in its powdered form.