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 hours 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 •OH produced from ambient humidity.