Single‐Step Fabrication of Paper‐Supported PVDF/Fe 2 O 3 /Cellulose Acetate Electrospun Membranes for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation

ABSTRACT While photocatalytic membranes have attracted significant attention for wastewater treatment, conventional electrospun membranes often display limited durability under continuous water flow. Although composite membrane structures can enhance mechanical stability, their fabrication generally involves complex, multi‐step procedures and additional bonding treatments. To overcome these challenges, a single‐step electrospinning strategy was employed to fabricate a mechanically robust, photocatalytic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/Fe 2 O 3 composite membrane directly integrated with cellulose filter paper (CFP). Incorporation of cellulose acetate (CA) markedly improved interfacial compatibility between the electrospun layer and the cellulose substrate, resulting in a mechanically interlocked structure without the need for secondary adhesives. The optimized composite (PFC15@CFP) exhibited superior interfacial adhesion strength and delamination resistance in T‐peel tests. Furthermore, the addition of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles was systematically investigated to adjust the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of the PVDF matrix. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed a homogeneous distribution of Fe 2 O 3 within the electrospun fibers. Increasing Fe 2 O 3 content reduced fiber diameter and enhanced membrane wettability, decreasing the water contact angle from 112° to 93°. Among the fabricated samples, the PF8 membrane, characterized by uniform fibrous morphology and the smallest average fiber diameter (1.72 μm), achieved the highest methylene blue degradation efficiency. These findings present a straightforward and effective method for developing mechanically stable, high‐performance photocatalytic composite membranes for practical water‐treatment applications.