Enhanced visible light photocatalysis by TiO2–BN enabled electrospinning of nanofibers for pharmaceutical degradation and wastewater treatment

Abstract

Boron nitride (BN) nanosheets are promising support materials for catalysts. A series of TiO₂–BN enabled electrospun nanofibers were synthesized for the photocatalytic treatment of ibuprofen and secondary wastewater effluent under visible light. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the existence of B–O–Ti bonds between the BN nanosheets and TiO₂ nanofibers, resulting in energy rearrangement, narrowed band gaps, and enhanced light utilization efficiency of the TiO₂–BN nanocomposites in the visible light spectrum. Transient photocurrent measurements revealed that the BN enhanced the transport of photogenerated holes from the bulk TiO₂ nanofibers to its surface, resulting in more efficient separation and less recombination of the charge carriers. A kinetic study of ibuprofen degradation indicated the enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO₂–BN catalysts with a higher BN content in the nanocomposites. The kinetic rate constant of the TiO₂–10% BN catalysts was 10 times higher than that of the pure TiO₂ nanofibers. The degradation of organic contaminants in wastewater followed the same trend as ibuprofen and improved with increasing BN content. The stability of the TiO₂–BN nanocomposites as an effective solar photocatalyst was demonstrated by multiple cycles of wastewater treatment. The results proved that TiO₂–BN is an appealing photocatalyst under visible light.