Plasma-enhanced immobilization of cerium oxide nanoparticles on a fluorocarbon-based nanofibrous membranes

Fluorocarbon-based (CF) nanofibrous membrane has been prepared by electrospinning of a source polyvinylidene fluoride and its surface was modified by CeOx nanoparticles by immersion in a water colloidal solution with CeOx nanoparticles (CeOx NPs). Two ways of the deposition of CeOx nanoparticles on the CF nanofiber membrane were used: (1) deposition of CeOx NPs on the pristine electrospun membrane and (2) the immediate deposition CeOx NPs on the plasma treated electrospun membrane. We investigated the effect of plasma treatment on the amount of CeOx NPs deposited on CF nanofiber surfaces and on the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio in CeOx NPs deposited on CF. The amount of CeOx on nanofiber surfaces was determined by XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and SEM analysis. Results showed a significant increase of CeOx NPs amount on the plasma treated CF membrane, accompanied by slight decrease of Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio in CeOx NPs adherent on plasma treated CF surface in comparison with pristine CF surface. Detailed analysis of XPS spectra - C1s, O1s, and Ce3d indicated a possibility of the chemical bonding of CeOx NPs on the plasma treated CF surface.