Core/shell nanofibers of TiO2@carbon embedded by Ag nanoparticles with enhanced visible photocatalytic activity†
Peng Zhang,Changlu Shao,Zhenyi Zhang,Mingyi Zhang,Yangyang Sun,Yichun Liu
Journal of Materials Chemistry Pub Date : 10/06/2011 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C1JM12965A
Abstract

Core/shell nanofibers of TiO2@carbon embedded by Ag nanoparticles (TiO2@C/Ag NFs) were fabricated by combining the electrospinning technique, the hydrothermal method and an in situreduction approach. The results showed that a uniform graphite carbon layer of approximately 8 nm in thickness was formed around the electrospun TiO2 nanofiber and small Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were dispersed well inside the carbon layer. And, the TiO2@C/Ag NFs had remarkable light absorption in the visible region. The photocatalytic studies revealed that the TiO2@C/Ag NFs exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RB) and Methyl Orange (MO) compared with the pure TiO2 nanofibers, TiO2@carbon core/shell nanofibers and TiO2/Ag nanofibers under visible light irradiation, which might be attributed to the good light absorption capability and high separation efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole pairs based on the photosynergistic effect among the three components of TiO2, carbon and Ag. And, the TiO2@C/Ag NFs could be easily recycled due to their one-dimensional nanostructural property.

Graphical abstract: Core/shell nanofibers of TiO2@carbon embedded by Ag nanoparticles with enhanced visible photocatalytic activity