Construction of stable Ti3+-TiO2 photocatalytic membrane for enhanced photoactivity and emulsion separation

Stable Ti3+-doped TiO2 photocatalytic membrane (PM) was fabricated though a green and facile combination of hydrothermal reaction and low-temperature vacuum-activation. Structural characterizations have confirmed that rose petal-like anatase/rutile nano-branches were uniformly anchored on TiO2 nanofibrous trunk. A unique internal structure has been proved that Ti3+ sites and oxygen vacancies located in the hollow mesopores existed in the bulk of nano-branches. This PM exhibited highly enhanced vis-responsive photoactivity towards tetracycline mineralization, and anti-fouling ability. The improved performance was mainly contributed by the high concentration stable Ti3+ centers, providing the PM with more active species and long-term lifespan. Due to the unique branched structure, this dense interweaved PM was also capable of efficient emulsion separation. It is believed that the multi-functional PM reveals a promising direction toward organic and oil-containing wastewater treatment.