Electrospun polyamide-6 membranes containing titanium dioxide as photocatalyst

Electrospun polyamide-6 membranes containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalyst were prepared and characterized. By tailoring the electrospinning parameters it was possible to obtain membranes having two different thicknesses, namely 5 and 20 µm, in which TiO2 particles were homogeneously dispersed. As a comparison, hybrid films made with polyamide-6 matrix and TiO2 filler were successfully produced, with inorganic/organic ratios of 10 and 20 wt%. The photocatalytic activity of both hybrid systems was evaluated by following the degradation of methylene blue as a target molecule as a function of UV irradiation time. A smoother degradation was recorded for the electrospun membranes with respect to the hybrid films probably due to a less exposed surface because of the highly porous structure. Even if a longer photodegradation time was necessary, the degradation of the dye was successfully achieved.