Photocatalytic activity of an electrophoretically deposited composite titanium dioxide membrane using carbon cloth as a conducting substrate

This is the first report where a polymer, namely poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), has been used as a binder together with the electrophoretic deposition process. PVDF-HFP provided mechanical stability and membrane flexibility and, at the same time, eliminated the leaching of the electrophoretically deposited TiO₂ particles in the solution during the water treatment process. Electrophoretic deposition of TiO₂ particles containing different weight percentages of PVDF-HFP were conducted and the required concentration of PVDF-HFP in the solution to prevent the leaching of TiO₂ was established. The obtained material finds applications in photocatalytic water treatment, as investigated under simulated solar light in aqueous solutions using 4-nitrophenol, caffeine, acetaminophen and uracil as target molecules. Results indicated the complete removal of 4-nitrophenol after 24 hours, a degradation percentage above 80% of acetaminophen and uracil and 60% for caffeine. Photodegradation of pre-adsorbed methylene blue (MB) both under simulated solar radiation and visible light was successfully achieved in dry conditions as confirmed by diffusion reflectance spectra.