Preparation and application of uniform TiO2 electrospun nanofiber based on pickering emulsion stabilized by TiO2/amphiphilic sodium alginate/polyoxyethylene

Control over the self-assembly of micro- and nano-scopic building blocks is highly important but very challenging in the fabrication of many hierarchical composite materials. We prepared a novel electrospun nanofiber on the basis of Pickering emulsion synergy-stabilized by titanium dioxide/modified sodium alginate/polyoxyethylene(TiO2/Ugi-Alg/PEO). The emulsion stability was evaluated using turbiscan stability index, rheology and confocal laser scanning microscope. The results showed that TiO2/Ugi-Alg/PEO could form a relatively thick interfacial particle film at the oil-water interface, which was helpful to reduce the extent of agglomeration among droplets due to the steric hindrance mechanism. Pickering emulsion was utilized as a template to prepare nanofibers with uniform and orderly distribution of TiO2 by electrospinning technology, which had a good photodegradation effect on pesticide lambda-cyhalothrin residues. The self-assembly of nanoparticles at the oil-water interface and its combination with electrospinning technology to prepare nanofibers containing TiO2 photodegradation activity are expected to be a new strategy to avoid pesticide long persistence period in the soil environment.