The potential use of nanosilver-decorated titanium dioxide nanofibers for toxin decomposition with antimicrobial and self-cleaning properties

While chemical and biological attacks pose risk to human health, clean air is of scientific, environmental and physiological concerns. In the present contribution, the potential use of nanosilver-decorated titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers for toxin decomposition with antimicrobial activity and self-cleaning properties was investigated. Titanium dioxide nanofibers were prepared through sol–gel reaction followed by an electrospinning process. Following the Japan Industrial Standard (JIS) protocol, decompositions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compound (VOC) by the TiO2 nanofibers suggested that these materials were capable of air treatment. To further enhance their anti-microbial activity, silver nanoparticles were decorated onto the TiO2 nanofibers’ surfaces via photoreduction of silver ion in the presence of the nanofibers suspension. Furthermore, tests of photocatalytic activity of the samples were performed by photodegrading methylene blue in water. The nanofibrous membranes prepared from these nanofibers showed superhydrophilicity under UV. Finally, the possibility of using these hybrid nanofibers in environmental and hygienic nanofiltration was proposed, where the self-cleaning characteristics was expected to be valuable in maintenance processes.