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A nanofiber-based TiO 2 (B)/carbon nanofiber membrane has been synthesized by a facile and effective route that incorporates electrospinning approach with hydrothermal method. The prepared membrane shows high flexibility and hydrophilicity. After treatment with a low surface energy fluorosilane, the obtained superhydrophobic surface endows the membrane a high adhesive force due to the hybrid microstructure of TiO 2 (B) nanotubes and nanoplates on fibers. A water droplet on the surface of the membrane appears spherical in shape, which cannot roll off even when the membrane is bent and turned upside down. When a water droplet dropped from a certain height above the tilt membrane, the rolled water droplet can be stopped after a small displacement. In addition, a 12 μl water droplet can be quickly captured from a hydrophobic surface by curvature change of the superhydrophobic TiO 2 (B)/carbon nanofiber membrane. The membrane with excellent static and dynamic pinning performance to water may be expected to apply to biomedical and microfluidic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting photocatalysts with improved properties for solar-driven chemical reactions is of great significance in developing green chemistry. Here, a series of Au/CeO 2 hybrid nanofibers with different Au loadings have been fabricated by a simple method of electrospinning followed by calcination in air. The particle size and plasmonic absorption of Au nanoparticles (NPs) loaded in the nanofibers were analyzed and found to vary with the dosage of chloroauric acid in the precursor solution. The Au/CeO 2 hybrid nanofibers were used as photocatalysts for selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with O 2 under simulated sunlight and visible light (>420 nm), respectively. The results showed that introducing Au NPs into CeO 2 nanofibers induced a great improvement in photocatalysis. The degree of improvement increased first and then decreased with the increase in Au loading, reaching an optimal level over 0.5 wt.% Au-loaded CeO 2 nanofibers. The photocatalytic reaction presents a very high selectivity of 100% for benzaldehyde, which is important for organic synthesis. The transient photocurrent responses of the Au/CeO 2 catalysts were also tested for corroborative evidence. After detailed discussion of various factors including plasmonic absorption, charge transfer, and surface activity of the photocatalyst, a possible mechanism for the photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol occurring at the Au–CeO 2 interface was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]