Anatase TiO₂ nanofibers were synthesized through electrospinning a precursor solution of tetrabutyl titanate in acetone/N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), using cellulose acetate as the carrying polymer. Anatase TiO₂ nanofibers of ca. 80 nm in diameter were obtained after post-electrospinning treatment steps including hydrolysis and calcination at 450 ℃. The morphology and structure of TiO₂ nanofibers were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and N₂ adsorption-desorption techniques. TiO₂ nanofibers were composed of grain-like nanoparticles of ca. 9.2 nm in diameter. They showed mesoporous structure with pore size of 1.7～21 nm. The specific surface area of the TiO₂ nanofibers was ca. 50 m²/g. This is close to that of commercial Degussa P25. Their photocatalytic decomposition efficiency toward organic molecules such as Rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol was tested under the irradiation of ultraviolet at 365 nm. With the loading of 0.05% (w) TiO₂ nanofibrous mats in 6 mg/L RhB and 10 mg/L phenol aq. solutions, about 90% of RhB and 75% of phenol were decomposed, respectively, under 500 W UV light for less than 2 h.

Key words: electrospinning, nanofiber, TiO₂, photocatalyst