Photocatalytic Properties of a Novel Keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> Composite Films Made through the Calcination of Wool Keratin Coatings Containing TiO<sub>2</sub> Precursors
In this study, the photocatalytic properties of novel keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite films, made through the calcination of wool keratin coatings containing TiO<sub>2</sub> precursors at 400 °C, were investigated for the photodegradation of organic contaminants under...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| author | Jinyuan Zhang Hui Zhang Wenjun Li Limeng Yang Hailiang Wu Ningtao Mao |
| author_facet | Jinyuan Zhang Hui Zhang Wenjun Li Limeng Yang Hailiang Wu Ningtao Mao |
| author_sort | Jinyuan Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, the photocatalytic properties of novel keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite films, made through the calcination of wool keratin coatings containing TiO<sub>2</sub> precursors at 400 °C, were investigated for the photodegradation of organic contaminants under visible light irradiation. Its structural characteristics and photocatalytic performance were systematically examined. It was shown that a self-cleaning hydrophobic keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite film containing meso- and micro-pores was formed after the keratin—TiO<sub>2</sub> precursors coating was calcined. In comparison with calcinated TiO<sub>2</sub> films, the keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite films doped with the elements of C, N, and S from keratins resulted in decreased crystallinity and a larger water contact angle. The bandgap of the char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite films increased slightly from 3.26 to 3.32 eV, and its separation of photogenerated charge carriers was inhibited to a certain degree. However, it exhibited higher photodegradation efficiency to methyl blue (MB) effluents than the pure calcinated TiO<sub>2</sub> films. This was mainly because of its special porous structure, large water contact angle, and high adsorption energy towards organic pollutants, confirmed by the density functional theory calculations. The main active species were <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> radicals in the MB photodegradation process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:37:50Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:37:50Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e4292cec3ec3470aa26c6c1c53f459172023-11-22T22:46:10ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442021-11-011111136610.3390/catal11111366Photocatalytic Properties of a Novel Keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> Composite Films Made through the Calcination of Wool Keratin Coatings Containing TiO<sub>2</sub> PrecursorsJinyuan Zhang0Hui Zhang1Wenjun Li2Limeng Yang3Hailiang Wu4Ningtao Mao5Research Centre for Functional Textile Materials, School of Textile Science and Engineering, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an 710048, ChinaResearch Centre for Functional Textile Materials, School of Textile Science and Engineering, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an 710048, ChinaResearch Centre for Functional Textile Materials, School of Textile Science and Engineering, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an 710048, ChinaResearch Centre for Functional Textile Materials, School of Textile Science and Engineering, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an 710048, ChinaKey Laboratory of Functional Textile Material and Product of Ministry of Education, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an 710048, ChinaSchool of Design, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKIn this study, the photocatalytic properties of novel keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite films, made through the calcination of wool keratin coatings containing TiO<sub>2</sub> precursors at 400 °C, were investigated for the photodegradation of organic contaminants under visible light irradiation. Its structural characteristics and photocatalytic performance were systematically examined. It was shown that a self-cleaning hydrophobic keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite film containing meso- and micro-pores was formed after the keratin—TiO<sub>2</sub> precursors coating was calcined. In comparison with calcinated TiO<sub>2</sub> films, the keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite films doped with the elements of C, N, and S from keratins resulted in decreased crystallinity and a larger water contact angle. The bandgap of the char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite films increased slightly from 3.26 to 3.32 eV, and its separation of photogenerated charge carriers was inhibited to a certain degree. However, it exhibited higher photodegradation efficiency to methyl blue (MB) effluents than the pure calcinated TiO<sub>2</sub> films. This was mainly because of its special porous structure, large water contact angle, and high adsorption energy towards organic pollutants, confirmed by the density functional theory calculations. The main active species were <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> radicals in the MB photodegradation process.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/11/11/1366wool keratinchar-TiO<sub>2</sub>composite filmphotocatalytic |
| spellingShingle | Jinyuan Zhang Hui Zhang Wenjun Li Limeng Yang Hailiang Wu Ningtao Mao Photocatalytic Properties of a Novel Keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> Composite Films Made through the Calcination of Wool Keratin Coatings Containing TiO<sub>2</sub> Precursors Catalysts wool keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite film photocatalytic |
| title | Photocatalytic Properties of a Novel Keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> Composite Films Made through the Calcination of Wool Keratin Coatings Containing TiO<sub>2</sub> Precursors |
| title_full | Photocatalytic Properties of a Novel Keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> Composite Films Made through the Calcination of Wool Keratin Coatings Containing TiO<sub>2</sub> Precursors |
| title_fullStr | Photocatalytic Properties of a Novel Keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> Composite Films Made through the Calcination of Wool Keratin Coatings Containing TiO<sub>2</sub> Precursors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photocatalytic Properties of a Novel Keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> Composite Films Made through the Calcination of Wool Keratin Coatings Containing TiO<sub>2</sub> Precursors |
| title_short | Photocatalytic Properties of a Novel Keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> Composite Films Made through the Calcination of Wool Keratin Coatings Containing TiO<sub>2</sub> Precursors |
| title_sort | photocatalytic properties of a novel keratin char tio sub 2 sub composite films made through the calcination of wool keratin coatings containing tio sub 2 sub precursors |
| topic | wool keratin char-TiO<sub>2</sub> composite film photocatalytic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/11/11/1366 |
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