Preparation and characterization of cerium-doped titanium dioxide/ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene porous composites with excellent photocatalytic activity

Porous ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites filled with surface-modified Ce-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (CeTiO2/UHMWPE) were prepared by template dissolution. The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV)visible spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectra, and scanning electron microscopy); the photocatalytic activity was also evaluated by the decomposition of methyl orange under UV exposure. The results demonstrate that the severe aggregation of CeTiO2 nanoparticles could be reduced by surface modification via a silane coupling agent (KH570). The CeTiO2/UHMWPE porous composites exhibited a uniform pore size. Doping with Ce4+ effectively extended the spectral response from the UV to the visible region and enhanced the surface hydroxyl groups of the TiO2 attached to the matrix. With a degradation rate of 85.3%, the 1.5 vol % CeTiO2/UHMWPE sample showed the best photocatalytic activity. The excellent permeability of the porous composites is encouraging for their possible use in wastewater treatment. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013