PAN electrospun nanofibers reinforced with Ag2CO3 nanoparticles: Highly efficient visible light photocatalyst for photodegradation of organic contaminants in waste water

This paper presents fabrication of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospun nanofibers (NFs) reinforced with Ag2CO3 nanoparticles (NPs) as highly efficient visible light photocatalyst. Preparation of the introduced NFs was accomplished by using simple, effective, high yield, and low cost process; electrospinning of Ag2CO3/PAN colloidal solution at different applied electric voltages. Photocatalytic efficiency of the introduced nanofiber mats was investigated by photodegradation of three dyes (Methyl orange, Methylene blue, and RhodamineB) under visible light irradiation. Experimental results indicated that the nanofiber mat obtained at applied electric voltage of 18 kV could show higher performance towards the photodegradation of organic contaminants. Moreover, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis confirmed the confinement of Ag2CO3 NPs inside polymeric NFs, which can overcome the serious problems of photocorrosion of photocatalyst and secondary pollution. Overall, the introduced NFs can be used as efficient, low cost, and healthily safe visible light driven photocatalyst in the field of water treatment and can promote its industrial application, especially in the open water surfaces.