US 12,064,753 B2
Metal oxide nanofibrous materials for photodegradation of environmental toxins
Wayne E. Jones, Vestal, NY (US); Jian Liu, Beijing (CN); William E. Bernier, Endwell, NY (US); Julia B. Tollin, Bellmore, NY (US); Danielle McCarthy, Johnson City, NY (US); Emilly Obuya, Troy, NY (US); and Jared DeCoste, Bel Air, MD (US)
Assigned to The Research Foundation for The State University of New York, Binghamton, NY (US)
Filed by The Research Foundation for The State University of New York, Binghamton, NY (US); and LEIDOS, Inc., Reston, VA (US)
Filed on May 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/883,425.
Application 16/883,425 is a division of application No. 15/069,764, filed on Mar. 14, 2016, granted, now 10,661,261, issued on May 26, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/132,611, filed on Mar. 13, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0316577 A1, Oct. 8, 2020
Int. Cl. B01J 23/42 (2006.01); B01J 21/06 (2006.01); B01J 23/06 (2006.01); B01J 31/16 (2006.01); B01J 31/38 (2006.01); B01J 35/39 (2024.01); B01J 35/61 (2024.01); B01J 37/08 (2006.01); C02F 1/32 (2023.01); C02F 1/72 (2023.01); C04B 35/622 (2006.01); C04B 35/624 (2006.01); C04B 35/626 (2006.01); C04B 35/628 (2006.01); D01D 5/00 (2006.01); B01J 35/23 (2024.01); B01J 35/58 (2024.01); B01J 37/03 (2006.01)
CPC B01J 31/38 (2013.01) [B01J 21/063 (2013.01); B01J 23/06 (2013.01); B01J 23/42 (2013.01); B01J 31/1691 (2013.01); B01J 35/39 (2024.01); B01J 35/613 (2024.01); B01J 35/615 (2024.01); B01J 37/082 (2013.01); B01J 37/086 (2013.01); C02F 1/32 (2013.01); C02F 1/725 (2013.01); C04B 35/62259 (2013.01); C04B 35/624 (2013.01); C04B 35/62675 (2013.01); C04B 35/62844 (2013.01); D01D 5/003 (2013.01); B01J 35/23 (2024.01); B01J 35/58 (2024.01); B01J 37/036 (2013.01); C02F 2305/08 (2013.01); C02F 2305/10 (2013.01); C04B 2235/5264 (2013.01); C04B 2235/5409 (2013.01); C04B 2235/85 (2013.01); Y02W 10/37 (2015.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming photocatalytic titanium oxide fibers, comprising:
forming a polymeric suspension of titanium oxide sol-gel precursor;
electrospinning the polymeric suspension to form a titanium oxide fibrous layer; and
calcining the titanium oxide fibrous layer, to produce the photocatalytic titanium oxide fibers comprising a distinct rutile phase and anatase phase comprising a ratio of rutile phase to anatase phase of at least 3:97,
wherein the photocatalytic titanium oxide fibers are photoexcitable to produce electron-hole pairs with an ability to form reactive radical species of proximate molecules from both the conduction band and the valence band,
the rutile phase being adapted to absorb photons, form hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen anions from surface absorbed water, and to transfer electrons to the anatase phase, and
the anatase phase being adapted to absorb photons, receive electrons from the rutile phase, and form superoxide radicals from surface absorbed oxygen.