Enhanced degradation of methylene blue dye using flexible SiO₂–TiO₂ nanofiber membranes

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is widely regarded as one of the most extensively applied photocatalytic semiconductor materials. However, conventional powdered titanium dioxide exhibits certain limitations, including relatively weak light absorption capability, a small surface area and insufficient active sites. This study successfully prepared flexible and porous silicon dioxide (SiO₂)–titanium dioxide nanofiber membranes (NFMs) by implementing electrospinning technology and calcination processes. The porous membranes demonstrate remarkable performance in water treatment, featuring a high specific surface area (49 m²/g) and porosity, enabling efficient adsorption and removal of organic pollutants in water. Remarkably, the NFMs-800 variant exhibits outstanding photocatalytic performance, achieving complete removal of adsorbed organic compounds under ultraviolet irradiation. The design and fabrication methods of this porous membrane are simple and scalable, providing a potential solution for practical water-treatment applications. Consequently, the silicon dioxide–titanium dioxide porous membrane holds significant prospects in the field of water treatment, offering a promising contribution to the attainment of efficient and sustainable water resource management.