Bi2ZnB2O7 – PVDF electrospun composite membrane for waste water treatment utilizing photo-piezocatalysis

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. B, Solid-state materials for advanced technology Solid-state materials for advanced technology, 2023-12, Vol.298, p.116842, Article 116842
• Main Authors: Porwal, Chirag, Verma, Sahil, Gaur, Akshay, Singh Chauhan, Vishal, Vaish, Rahul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Borate; Electrospinning; Photo-piezocatalysis; Photocatalysis; Piezocatalysis
• ISSN: 0921-5107; 1873-4944
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2023.116842

[Display omitted] •The piezoelectric properties of the PVDF has been improved by incorporating Bi2ZnB2O7 via electrospinning method.•Electrospun nanofibers exhibit high mechanical strength and a favourable nanoconfinement effect on interfaces, which promotes the synergistic piezo-phototronic effect in piezoelectric heterostructures.•Achieved 74% degradation with a kinetic rate of 7.3 × 10−3 min−1 of methylene blue under combined effect of visible light irradiation and ultrasonication.•The mechanism underlying piezo-photocatalytic dye degradation has been explained with scavenger test. To enhance the piezoelectric capabilities of the β-phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride), a new composite membrane was prepared via electrospinning. This consist of Bi2ZnB2O7 and poly(vinylidene fluoride). A comparison of electrospun and composite fibers showed a significant increase in β-phase content. XRD and FTIR were used to characterize the samples' structures. FE-SEM and HR-TEM were also used to examine sample morphology. The optical properties of the BBZO-PVDF membrane were further assessed using UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The composite membrane's effectiveness was tested using photocatalysis, piezocatalysis, and photo-piezocatalysis. Methylene blue (MB) dye was degraded by these methods. The synergy between light and piezoelectric actions improved degradation performance significantly. It achieved a 74% degrading efficiency and a kinetic rate constant of 7.3 × 10−3 min−1. The findings show that the BBZO-PVDF composite membrane has great potential for enhanced environmental remediation and catalytic processes.