Recycled CF/TiO2 Nanotextures for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies have not effectively utilized Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) waste to construct composites with different nanotextures for enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen production, particularly due to limitations in TiO2's wide band gap and high electron-hole recombination rate.

Innovation Solution

Recycling CFRP waste to derive carbon fibers (CFs) coupled with TiO2 through sol-gel and physical mixing methods to enhance visible light absorption and prevent charge carrier recombination, forming CFs/TiO2 nanotextures for photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If TiO2 is used as photocatalyst, then chemical stability and non-toxicity are improved, but wide band gap and high electron-hole recombination rate reduce photocatalytic activity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidphotocatalytic activity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates composite materials by coupling TiO2 with carbon fibers (CFs) derived from CFRP waste. The composite structure combines the chemical stability of TiO2 with the conductive properties of carbon fibers, which serve as cocatalyst to improve charge separation and enhance photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the photocatalytic system by changing the band gap parameters through composite formation. The carbon fiber-TiO2 composite narrows the effective band gap, enabling visible light absorption while maintaining the chemical stability of TiO2.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If carbon fibers are coupled with TiO2 to enhance visible light absorption, then photocatalytic activity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotocatalytic activityVSAvoidcomposite structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes waste CFRP materials as the source of carbon fibers, converting a waste product into a valuable cocatalyst component. This self-service approach transforms environmental pollution into a resource that enhances photocatalytic performance, reducing the need for separately sourcing carbon fibers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers carbon fibers from discarded CFRP waste through thermal decomposition. The carbon fibers are extracted and purified from the polymer matrix, then coupled with TiO2 to create an enhanced photocatalyst, effectively recovering value from waste materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Object-affected harmful factors

If CFRP waste is recycled to produce carbon fibers, then environmental sustainability is improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental sustainabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs thermal decomposition (pyrolysis) to transform CFRP waste into carbon fibers. This phase transition process converts the polymer-containing CFRP material into carbon-rich fibers by heating in an inert atmosphere, effectively removing the polymer layer and leaving conductive carbon fibers suitable for photocatalyst coupling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The CFs/TiO2 nanotextures exhibit significantly enhanced photoactivity and stability, producing hydrogen at a higher yield and efficiency compared to pristine TiO2, with an apparent quantum yield of 26.3% under low-intensity light irradiation.

Implementation Method 1

The CFs are effectively used to enhance visible light absorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

prevent photoinduced charge carrier recombination during photocatalytic hydrogen production

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCharge carrier separation: Photovoltaic Effect

Implementation Method 3

TiO2 emerges as a promising candidate due to its abundance, affordability, chemical stability, non-toxicity, and higher oxidation potential

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotocatalysis: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 4

separating or removing a polymer layer of carbon-fibre waste via thermal decomposition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS12515199B2Method and system for constructing CFs/TiO2 nanotexture from recycled carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY

AI summary

There is disclosed a method of developing semiconductor photocatalysts by recycling Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) waste, the method comprising separating or removing a polymer layer of carbon-fibre waste via thermal decomposition; and coupling the resulting carbon-fibres as a cocatalyst with semiconductor materials; for photocatalytic water splitting results in producing hydrogen (H2). The semiconductor materials such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), to be used as composite materials, and coupling the carbon-fibres as a cocatalyst with semiconductor materials is done via facile hydrothermal methods and ultrasonic/physical mixing approaches (CFs/TiO2-A). Further disclosed is a carbon fiber (CF)/TiO2 composite comprising well-distributed and uniformly sized TiO2 nanoparticles, wherein the TiO2 particles are uniformly attached to the CF surface, wherein the CF is synthesized by being separated from a polymer layer of CFRP waste.