TiO₂hollow fibers with internal interconnected nanotubes prepared by atomic layer deposition for improved photocatalytic activity

Abstract

TiO2 hollow fibers with internal interconnected nanotubes were prepared by atomic layer deposition using a polysulfone–polyvinylpyrrolidone hollow fiber membrane as the template. The interconnected nanotubes form a titanium oxide network containing the dual characteristics of nano-sized pores and channels with adjustable spaces by the cycle number of the atomic layer deposition, and the titanium oxide network further constructs a centimeter-long hollow fiber. This unique macro–nano composite structure enables us to construct a large scale nanoreactor, which has been demonstrated to possess a higher performance (∼33%) for photo-degrading the organic water contaminants in a continuous flow than conventional P25 TiO2 nanopowder under the same test conditions.