Centrifugally spun TiO2/V2O5 mixed fibers as highly active and stable catalysts for the partial oxidation of ethanol

This paper demonstrates, for the first time, the synthesis of uniform and crystalline mixed TiO2/V2O5 (with different Ti:V ratios) fibers with a diameter of ≈ 1 µm via centrifugal spinning. These mixed fibers were achieved in three steps: (i) mixing two stable aqueous precursor solutions based on ammonium bis(oxalato)oxotitanate(IV) hydrate and ammonium metavanadate, then (ii) centrifugal spinning of the resulting solution into precursor fibers, followed by (iii) their annealing at 450 °C for 1 h in air to obtain crystalline fibers. The catalytic activity of these fibers was assessed in the partial oxidation of ethanol, compared with reference TiO2 fibers and nanoparticles, both impregnated with V2O5, as well as TiO2/V2O5 nanoparticles. The results showed the highest catalytic activity for fibers with a composition of 95 at.% Ti/5 at.% V, then TiO2 fibers impregnated with vanadium atoms on the surface. The fibers possess good chemical stability.