Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) PMMA/Organically Modified Montmorillonite (O-MMT) composite
microfibers membrane coated with TiO_2 has significant advantages in cationic dyes adsorption and
can break down the adsorbed dyes under UV radiation, which is quite useful in water treatment. In this
work, PMMA/O-MMT composite microfibers were firstly prepared by emulsion polymerization combined
with electrospinning, and then coated by nanosize TiO_2 using RF magnetron sputtering. The effects
of TiO_2 sputter coating on morphology and surface modulus was characterized by Scanning Electron
Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), while the wetting behaviour was studied by
drop shape analyzer. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was tested under UV radiation
and the properties of the treated and untreated samples were compared. It was observed from SEM
images that TiO_2 was well dispersed and deposited on the surface of PMMA/O-MMT microfibers, while
the AFM results showed increase in the surface modulus after TiO_2 coating. Besides, the wettability of
the microfibers membrane coated with TiO_2 was altered, which facilitated water treatment in practical
use. Furthermore, the PMMA/O-MMT microfibers membrane coated with TiO_2 performed well in
photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. In conclusion, PMMA/O-MMT composite microfibers
membrane coated with TiO_2 was quite promising in water treatment.
