Fabrication of photocatalytic TiO ₂ nanoparticle film on PET fabric by hydrothermal method

A layer of TiO ₂ nanoparticle was immobilized on PET fiber using titanium sulfate and urea under hydrothermal condition. The TiO ₂ -loaded fiber was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, respectively. PET fabric before and after treatment was also examined for the reflectance spectrum, tensile properties, water absorption and degradation of methyl orange dye under UV irradiation. The results show that pure anatase nanocrystalline TiO ₂ is precipitated in the presence of PET fabric and deposited on the surface of fiber via the hydrothermal process. The thin film is constituted of sphere nanoparticles of an average size 3.0 nm, which is grafted onto the fiber surface by chemical reaction. For the TiO ₂ -coated fiber, the onset decomposition temperature decreases, but the exothermic temperature increases as compared with the untreated fiber. Owing to the shrinkage of fabric size, the breaking load and tensile strain in warp and weft directions increase. The TiO ₂ -loaded PET fabric can absorb more ultraviolet radiation even after being washed for 30 times. The water absorbency is also slightly increased. The capability of photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye is obtained.