Ag/TiO2 nanofibers heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic activity for parathion

Ag/TiO2 nanofibers heterostructure were fabricated by calcination of electrospun PVP/Ti(OiPr)(4)/AgNO3 composite nanofibers and characterized by XRD, FESEM, EDS, and (HR)TEM. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/TiO2 in the decomposition of parathion was also investigated. It was found that the prepared heterostructure composite included Ag nanoparticles distributed uniformly in the TiO2 nanofibers. Comparing with pure TiO2 nanofibers and Ag nanofibers, Ag/TiO2 heterostructure photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet light irradiation in the decomposition of parathion aqueous solution. The content of Ag nanoparticles on TiO2 nanofibers played an important role in photocatalytic performance during the parathion degradation reaction. 4% Ag was found to be the optimum doping dosage. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.