N-Doped TiO₂ Nanofibers Deposited by Electrospinning

Abstract

N-doped TiO2 nanofibers were deposited by electrospinning onto silicon and then annealed in air. They have been analyzed by secondary electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoemission. After the thermal processes, the fibers, having a diameter between 300 and 400 nm, contain a small amount of nitrogen and still show the TiO2 anatase crystalline structure. Different solutions and annealing processes were used to vary the nitrogen concentration and the crystalline phase. These nanofibers were successfully tested as photocatalytic devices for methylene blue degradation under visible light irradiation.