Premium
PVDF/ZnO composite films for photocatalysis: A comparative study of solution mixing and melt blending methods
Author(s) -
Dossin Zanrosso Crissiê,
Piazza Diego,
Lansarin Marla Azário
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.25368
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , polyvinylidene fluoride , chemical engineering , composite number , composite material , methylene blue , porosity , adsorption , mixing (physics) , polymer , catalysis , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Heterogeneous photocatalysis represents a solution for several environmental problems. However, achieving photocatalyst separation from reaction media on a large scale remains a challenge, one that might be overcome by the immobilization of photocatalysts into supports. To this end, composites of polyvinylidene fluoride and zinc oxide (ZnO) were prepared by three different techniques: solution mixing (SM) followed by Nonsolvent Induced Phase Separation; and melt blending at both low‐ and high‐shear rates (LS and HS) in a rheometer and mixing chamber, respectively, to compare the resultant morphology in photocatalysis. Photocatalytic efficiency was assessed by methylene blue (MB) discoloration in a batch reactor liquid phase and by resazurin (RZ) reduction. The changes promoted by nanoparticle inclusion, processing conditions and UV effect were demonstrated by FTIR‐ATR, XRD, DSC, and SEM. Results showed that ZnO incorporation was successful under all processing conditions, providing effective photocatalytic composites. However, samples prepared by SM had a twofold increase in discoloration efficiency and fourfold increase in surface photoactivity, when compared with LS or HS‐produced samples, explained by its higher porosity of 88% ± 1.3%. The covering of the photocatalyst surface was also evident on SEM analysis for melt blended samples, further contributing to reduction in their photocatalytic activity.