Photocatalytic degradation performance of Ag-modified flexible TiO2 nanofiber film

Recent studies have demonstrated that the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of metals decays into hot electrons in a short time due to Landau damping, and these hot electrons can participate in catalytic reactions. Leveraging this capability, this work combines sol-gel electrospinning with the silver mirror reaction (SMR) to prepare flexible Ag/TiO2 nanofiber film. The synthesized nanofiber film possesses a large specific surface area, providing more adsorption sites. Additionally, the deposition of silver alters the photoelectric properties of the nanofiber film, enhancing its absorption capacity for visible light. Consequently, the degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution using Ag-modified TiO2 nanofiber film reached 73 %, compared to only 38 % with pure TiO2, indicating the feasibility of enhancing photocatalysis through SPR. Furthermore, as a nanofiber film, it addresses the issue of poor recovery associated with traditional granular photocatalysts, thereby extending the sample's service life. It also exhibits superior mechanical properties compared to ordinary nanofiber films, making it suitable for application in more complex environments.