Low temperature sputtered TiO2 nano sheaths on electrospun PES fibers as high porosity photoactive materialElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5ra13153g

• Main Authors: Alberti, A, Bongiorno, C, Pellegrino, G, Sanzaro, S, Smecca, E, Condorelli, G. G, Giuffrida, A. E, Cicala, G, Latteri, A, Ognibene, G, Cassano, A, Figoli, A, Spinella, C, La Magna, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra13153g

We propose a low temperature approach based on combining an electrospinning methodology and reactive sputtering processes to realise a porous mesh of polyethersulfone (PES) fibers (∼700 nm in diameter) wrapped by TiO 2 nano-sheaths, active under UV illumination. The mesh has a porosity as high as ∼91% in volume and was prepared at T ≤ 160 °C. The effectiveness of the TiO 2 /PES mesh under UV was proved by Methylene Blue (MB) dissociation experiments and related to the TiO 2 coverage properties, namely its thickness (∼15 nm), its nano-structuring (grains diameter 8-10 nm) and lattice structure (anatase) that improve the photo-activity action. The combination of electro-spinning plus sputtering processes lays the basis for high porosity and low cost, high throughput, high yield and flexible purifying filter technologies. Low temperature approach based on combining electrospinning and reactive sputtering processes to realise a porous mesh of PES fibers wrapped by TiO 2 nano-sheaths, active under UV illumination.