Fabrication, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cellulose Composite Aerogel

Abstract

nanoTiO 2 /cellulose composite gels have been uniformly blended during the dissolving process of cellulose in ionic liquids (ILs). After the regeneration process, the obtained hydrogel was finally dried through supercritical CO 2 to obtain the TiO 2 /cellulose composite aerogel. The structure and properties of the composite aerogel were characterized by XRD, SEM, FT-IR, UV-vis, and photocatalytic degradation tests. The porous structure and hydroxyl groups in the regenerated cellulose matrix provided cavities and affinity for the immobilization of TiO 2 in the cellulose gels through electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The TiO 2 /cellulose composite gels exhibited a good photocatalytic activity for photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light irradiation. This research highlights another opportunity for the development of the portable and flexible photocatalyst.