Electrospun titania fibers by incorporating graphene/Ag hybrids for the improved visible-light photocatalysis

doi:10.1007/s11706-018-0441-0

Front. Mater. Sci.

2018, Vol. 12

Issue (4) : 379-391 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-018-0441-0

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Electrospun titania fibers by incorporating graphene/Ag hybrids for the improved visible-light photocatalysis

Zhongchi WANG^1,², Gongsheng SONG^1,², Jianle XU¹, Qiang FU^1,³, Chunxu PAN^1,^2,³(

)

¹. School of Physics and Technology, and MOE Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
². Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen 518057, China
³. Center for Electron Microscopy, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

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Abstract

A novel graphene/Ag nanoparticles (NPs) hybrid (prepared by a physical method (PM)) was incorporated into electrospun TiO₂ fibers to improve visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties. The experimental study revealed that the graphene/Ag NPs (PM) hybrid not only decreased the bandgap energy of TiO₂, but also enhanced its light response in the visible region due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. In addition, compared with those of TiO₂ fibers incorporating the graphene/Ag NPs hybrid (prepared by a chemical method (CM)), TiO₂–graphene/Ag NPs (PM) fibers exhibited a higher surface photocurrent density and superior photocatalytic performance, i.e., the visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity was enhanced by 2 times. The main reasons include a lower surface defect density of the graphene/Ag NPs (PM) hybrid, a smaller particle size (10 nm) and a higher dispersity of Ag NPs, which promote the rapid transfer of photoexcited charge carriers and inhibit the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. It is expected that this kind of ternary electrospun fibers will be a promising candidate for applications in water splitting, solar cells, CO₂ conversion and optoelectronic devices, etc.

Keywords TiO₂--graphene/Ag electrospining photocatalysis

Corresponding Author(s): Chunxu PAN

Online First Date: 23 October 2018 Issue Date: 10 December 2018

Cite this article:

Zhongchi WANG,Gongsheng SONG,Jianle XU, et al. Electrospun titania fibers by incorporating graphene/Ag hybrids for the improved visible-light photocatalysis[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2018, 12(4): 379-391.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-018-0441-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2018/V12/I4/379

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the preparation of TiO₂?graphene/Ag NPs fibers.

Fig.2 TEM images of (a) pristine graphene sheets, (b) the graphene/Ag NPs (CM) hybrid and (c) the graphene/Ag NPs (PM) hybrid. (d) Raman spectra of samples. Size distribution maps of Ag NPs: (e) the graphene/Ag NPs (CM) hybrid; (f) the graphene/Ag NPs (PM) hybrid.

Fig.3 Microstructure and composition distribution of TiO₂?graphene/Ag NPs (PM) fibers: SEM images of (a) unsintered fibers and (b) sintered fibers; (c) TEM image and (d) SEM mapping of a sintered fiber.

Fig.4 (a) XRD patterns and (b) Raman spectra of fibers.

Fig.5 XPS spectra of TiO₂?graphene/Ag NPs (PM) fibers: (a) survey; (b) C 1s; (c) O 1s; (d) Ti 2p; (e) Ag 3d.

Fig.6 (a) UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and (b) PL spectra of samples.

Fig.7 Photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performances of samples: (a) transient photocurrent densities; (b) photocatalytic activities; (c) photodegradation efficiencies; (d) kinetic linear simulation curves of photocatalytic reactions; (e) pseudo-first-order rates of photocatalytic reactions; (f) photocatalytic activities of TiO₂?graphene/Ag NPs (PM) fibers with 5 cycles.

Fig.8 Schematic diagram of the interfacial photogenerated charge carriers separation and transfer within TiO₂?graphene/Ag (PM) fibers.

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