Porphyrin Dye/TiO2 imbedded PET to improve visible-light photocatalytic activity and organosilicon attachment to enrich hydrophobicity to attain an efficient self-cleaning material

Abstract

Abstract A visible-light sensitized, superhydrophobic, self-cleaning Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric exhibiting photocatalytic dye degrading properties has been prepared by depositing anatase TiO2, porphyrin (TPPS, CuTPPS), and trimethoxy(octadecyl)silane (Si) onto the PET samples. The modified PET fabric showed superhydrophobicity, exhibiting a water contact angle (WCA) of 147°, and the ability to photodegrade rhodamine dye (RB), and the dye degradation ability of the modified fabric under visible light was monitored at different time intervals by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The degradation efficiency was found to be in the order PET/TiO2/TPPS\u202f>\u202fPET/TiO2/TPPS/Si\u202f>\u202fPET/TiO2/CuTPPS\u202f>\u202fPET/TiO2/CuTPPS/Si\u202f>\u202fPET/TiO2\u202f>\u202fPET. The photodegradation ability and superhydrophobicity of the modified PET samples in relation to coffee and ketchup stains were examined qualitatively. Due to its superhydrophobicity, water soluble impurities/coffee drops roll off the surface of the modified PET fabrics, resulting in stain-free fabric. The fabrics were characterized by UV–Vis, FESEM, XRD and XPS. The structures of the synthesized porphyrin and TiO2 were confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and XRD analysis, respectively.