Title: One-dimensional Z-scheme TiO₂/WO₃ composite nanofibres for enhanced photocatalytic activity of hydrogen production

Authors: Dongyang Wan; Peng Zhang; Jiangtao Zhao; Junhua Hu; Guosheng Shao

Addresses: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China ' State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (ICDLCEM), Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Street, Zhengzhou 450001, China ' School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China ' State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (ICDLCEM), Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Street, Zhengzhou 450001, China ' State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (ICDLCEM), Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Street, Zhengzhou 450001, China

Abstract: TiO₂/WO₃ composite nanofibres were fabricated by electrospinning and calcine. The as-prepared composite nanofibes were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicated that the TiO₂/WO₃ composite nanofibres were successfully fabricated, and the H₂-generation of the as-fabricated TiO₂/WO₃ composite nanofibres was significantly enhanced comparing with pure TiO₂ nanofibres. The enhanced photocatalytic activities were mainly due to the addition of WO₃, which acted as a 'hole collector' leading to effective charge transfer. More importantly, the improvement of photocatalytic activity of TiO₂/WO₃ composite nanofibres was proved by photocurrent and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Keywords: electrospinning; H₂-generation; photocatalytic activity; composite nanofibres.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2019.097259

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2019 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.227 - 238

Received: 08 Jun 2017
Accepted: 06 Dec 2017
Published online: 07 Jan 2019 *

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