Selective visible-light-driven toxicity breakdown of nerve agent simulant methyl paraoxon over a photoactive nanofabric

Abstract

An efficient photocatalytic nanofabric (NbOFe-NF) based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and immobilized iron niobate (NbOFe) nanoparticles was produced through the electrospinning technique and applied to the photodegradation of methyl paraoxon (MP), a highly neurotoxic chemical warfare simulant. Photocatalytic tests were conducted in the absence of any solvent, relying only on the fabric, substrate, and visible light radiation. As a result, an excellent conversion of 94.5 % of MP was obtained in 48 h of photocatalysis. Furthermore, the photoactive nanofabric proved to be extremely selective, converting MP and its original organophosphate product into less toxic compounds. This entire process was exclusively photocatalytic, through h+ and Oradical dotH produced from ambient humidity.