Photocatalytic degradation of polypropylene film using TiO2-based nanomaterials under solar irradiation. (5th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verma, Rajni; Singh, Sachchidanand; Dalai, M.K.; Saravanan, M.; Agrawal, Ved V.; Srivastava, Avanish Kumar
• Is Part Of: Materials & design. Volume 133(2017)
• Page Start: 10
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2017-11-05
• Subjects: TiO2 nanoparticles -- TiO2-rGO nanocomposite -- Polypropylene -- Sunlight -- Photodegradation -- Electron microscopy; Materials -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Conception technique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2017.07.042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-1275

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this research is the reduction of environmental pollution by degrading polypropylene (PP) film in an eco-friendly way via TiO2 -based nanomaterials (NMs) under solar irradiation. PP was mingled with TiO2 -based NMs; TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and its nanocomposite, (TiO2 -reduced Graphene Oxide: TiO2 -rGO) individually by a facile solution casting technique to comparatively study its photodegradation before and after 130 h of solar irradiation in triplicate manner. The photocatalytic degradation of PP, by TiO2 -based NMs, is affirmed by various advanced characterization tools such as XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM and ToF-SIMS. XRD depicts the phase transformation. FT-IR confirms the appearance of carbonyl group with higher carbonyl index leading to efficient photodegradation of PP by TiO2 -rGO nanocomposite as compared to TiO2 NPs. Microstructural investigation by FE-SEM reveals the augmented degradation of PP matrix on the surface of TiO2 -rGO nanocomposite through the formation of cavity (diameter: ~ 500 nm) at the interface. The prominent peaks in ToF-SIMS affirm generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) followed by photodegradation. The mechanism of enhancement of photocatalytic degradation by TiO2 -rGO nanocomposite has also been presented in detail. The obtained degraded fragments of PP, thus, are biodegradable and facilitate to reduce the environmental pollution by this eco-friendly route. Graphical abstract: An efficient and enhanced photocatalytic degradation of polypropylene film was studied by utilizing TiO2 -rGO nanocomposite under solar irradiation for 130 h. Characterization tools such as XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM and ToF-SIMS ensure the photodegradation. Higher value of carbonyl index and formation of cavities (diameter; ~ 500 nm) were noted via FT-IR and FE-SEM, respectively. Highlights: An eco-friendly route is employed to reduce the environmental pollution by degrading polypropylene film via TiO2 -based nanomaterials under solar irradiation. Polypropylene was mingled with TiO2 -based nanomaterials by a facile solution casting technique to study its photodegradation before and after 130 h of solar irradiation in triplicate manner. TiO2 -rGO nanocomposite showed an enhanced photodegradation activity which is affirmed by advanced characterization tools; FT-IS and FE-SEM. The obtained degraded fragments of polymer are biodegradable and facilitate to reduce the environmental pollution.