Synthesis and Characterization of Ruthenium Doped TiO₂Nanofibers

Ruthenium(Ru)-doped $TiO_2$ nanofibers were prepared using electrospun Ru-$TiO_2$/poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) fibers and subsequent annealing for 1 h at temperatures in the range of $500^{\circ}C$ to $1000^{\circ}C$ in air. The properties of the Ru-$TiO_2$ fibers were characterized as a function of the Ru content and calcination temperature using X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry with differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and viscometer, pycnometer and dynamic tensiometer measurements. Although the diameter of the fiber decreased slightly with increasing calcination temperature, no dramatic changes were observed with respect to the ruthenium content. The XRD and FT-IR results revealed that anatase phase and ruthenium metal began to be formed after calcination at temperatures above $500^{\circ}C$. Anatase and rutile phases and ruthenium metal coexisted in the fibers calcined above $600^{\circ}C$. No anatase phase was detected in the fibers containing ruthenium when they were calcined at $1000^{\circ}C$. The morphology of the fibers changed from smooth and uniform to porous with increasing temperature. The experimental results suggest that the calcination temperature and Ru content were influential in determining the morphology and structure of the fibers.