%0 Journal Article
%T Synthesis of V2O5 Nanoflakes on PET Fiber as Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysts for Degradation of RhB Dye
%A Yim-Leng Chan
%A Swee-Yong Pung
%A Srimala Sreekantan
%J Journal of Catalysts
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/370696
%X The visible-light-driven semiconductor photocatalysts are the current research focus techniques used to decompose organic pollutants/compounds. The photodegradation efficiency of organic compounds by photocatalyst is expected to be better compared to UV-light-driven semiconductor photocatalysts technique since the major components of our solar energy are visible light (~44%). However, as most of the previous research work has been carried out using semiconductor photocatalysts in the form of powder, extra steps and costs are needed to remove this powder from the slurry to prevent secondary pollution. In this research work, we will explain our fabrication technique of V2O5 nanoflakes by growing radially on PET fibers. By utilizing the flexibility and high surface area of polymeric fibers as novel substrate for the growth of V2O5 nanoflakes, the Rhodamine B (RhB) could be degraded under visible light irradiation. The photodegradation of RhB solution by V2O5 nanoflakes followed the 1st order kinetic with a constant rate of 0.0065£¿min£¿1. The success of this research work indicates that V2O5 nanoflakes grown on PET fibre could be possibly used as organic waste water purifier under continuous flow condition. A photodegradation mechanism of V2O5 nanostructures to degrade RhB dye is proposed based on the energy diagram. 1. Introduction Water pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems. Many untreated organic effluents such as dyes from textile industries are being discharged into the ecosystem, creating severe environmental pollution by releasing toxic and potential carcinogenic substances into the environment [1]. Therefore, various wastewater treatment processes such as precipitation, adsorption by activated carbon, coagulation, and membrane ultrafiltration have been developed for the removal of these organic pollutants [2¨C5]. However, these wastewater treatment processes are simply transforming the pollutants from one phase to another, leading to secondary pollution problems. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the utilization of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) via semiconductor photocatalysts for the organic pollutants removal. In AOPs, highly reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals are generated to oxidize a broad range of organic pollutants rapidly and nonselectively. Semiconductor photocatalysts are widely used due to their unique strengths for complete mineralization of organic pollutants into less harmful byproduct such as water, CO2, and mineral acids. For example, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles [6¨C10] and titanium
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jcat/2014/370696/