This invention introduces electrospun TiO₂ nanofibers with optimized crystalline phases and one-dimensional morphology, enabling rapid, reusable, and visible-light-driven degradation of pollutants for large-scale decontamination.
Persistent pollutants such as pharmaceutical waste, textile dyes, and chemical warfare agents threaten ecosystems and human health. Current treatment methods—dilution, adsorption, and incineration—are slow, costly, or incomplete. Titanium dioxide photocatalysis is promising, but conventional nanoparticles suffer from UV-only activation, rapid electron-hole recombination, and aggregation. A scalable material with enhanced light absorption, phase control, and stability is urgently needed to make photocatalysis practical for environmental and protective applications.
This invention features electrospun TiO₂ nanofibers and composites fabricated using sol-gel processing, electrospinning, and calcination. The process enables precise control of the anatase-to-rutile ratio, achieving an optimal ~38 wt% rutile fraction for pollutant degradation. The nanofibers’ one-dimensional morphology provides high surface area, improved charge transport, and stability. Enhancements such as graphene integration, noble metal doping, or dye sensitization extend photocatalytic activity into the visible spectrum. Unlike nanoparticle slurries, these nonwoven fiber mats are reusable, scalable, and compatible with membranes, coatings, and protective gear.
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• Achieves pollutant degradation rates twice as fast as commercial P25 nanoparticles
• Optimized anatase–rutile ratio improves electron-hole separation efficiency
• High surface area and porosity enable enhanced adsorption and charge transfer
• Visible-light activation enabled by graphene integration or dye sensitization
• Stable nanofiber morphology eliminates nanoparticle aggregation issues
• Fabricated into mats for membranes, filters, and coatings with easy reuse
• Compatible with noble metal doping for further performance boosts
• Proven degradation of chemical warfare agent simulants under ambient light
• Industrial wastewater treatment for pharmaceuticals and textile dyes
• Air purification systems for hospitals, cleanrooms, and sensitive environments
• Self-cleaning and self-decontaminating coatings for buildings and infrastructure
• Protective gear and gas mask filters for chemical threat neutralization
• Integration into membranes for portable and municipal water purification systems
• Enhanced photocatalytic activity in dye-sensitized solar cells for renewable energy
• US Provisional Application No. 62/132,611 – Filed March 13, 2015, Status: Converted
• US Patent 10,661,261 – Application No. 15/069,764, Filed March 14, 2016, Granted May 26, 2020, Published US 2017-0056873 A1
• US Patent 12,064,753 – Application No. 16/883,425, Filed May 26, 2020, Granted August 20, 2024
Prototype – Electrospun nanofiber catalysts validated in laboratory studies for pollutant degradation under UV and visible light, including chemical warfare agent simulants. TRL ~4–5.
This technology is available for licensing.
This technology is attractive to companies in environmental remediation, water treatment, protective equipment, and energy sectors seeking scalable, reusable, and cost-effective photocatalytic solutions.
Degradation performance data, electron microscopy images, and phase composition studies available upon request.