Hierarchically structured suspended TiO2 nanofibers for use in UV and pH sensor devices

Photoelectrochemical sensors based on hierarchically structured titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers (NFs) were fabricated by combination of electrospinning, carbon microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and hydrothermal reaction. During the electrospinning step, a rotating drum collector was used to align and position NFs of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on top of a carbon-MEMS structure. Following calcination under vacuum, a stable ohmic contact was obtained between suspended TiO2-carbon NFs (TiO2/C NF) and the carbon electrodes. Subsequent to this, a hierarchical nanostructure of TiO2 nanowires (TiO2 NWs) was hydrothermally synthesized onto the TiO2/C NFs and successfully utilized as UV and pH sensors. This is the first demonstration of a semiconductor-based nanofiber sensor suspended on carbon electrodes that has been achieved by a relatively simple and cost-effective electrospinning method. Furthermore, these sensors demonstrate a high sensitivity, as well as a stable ohmic contact, due to the large surface area of the TiO2 NWs and the carbon-carbon contact between the suspended TiO2/C NFs and carbon electrodes.