Electrospinning was successfully used for the one-step fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fibers loaded with an inorganic photocatalyst-titanium oxide (TiO2). By tuning the PMMA/TiO2 ratio and the electrospinning conditions (applied voltage, needle tip-to-collector distance, and flow rates), PMMA/TiO2 composites with selected organic/inorganic ratios, tailored designs, and targeted properties were obtained. The morphology of the electrospun composites was affected by the amount of TiO2 incorporated into the PMMA fibers. In addition, the inorganic photocatalyst had an impact on the wettability, thermal stability, and optical properties of the electrospun composites. In particular, the surface wettability of the composites was strongly influenced by UV light irradiation and from hydrophobic became superhydrophilic. Moreover, PMMA/TiO2 composites had enhanced tensile strength in comparison with those of bare PMMA mats. The electrospun PMMA/TiO2 composites showed excellent photocatalytic efficiency against the model organic pollutant-methylene blue-which is very promising for the future development of membranes that are highly efficacious for photocatalytic water treatment.
Keywords: TiO2; UV-induced wettability; electrospinning; mechanical properties; photocatalysis; poly(methyl methacrylate).