One-dimensional hierarchical heterostructures of In2S3 nanosheets on electrospun TiO2 nanofibers with enhanced visible photocatalytic activity

In2S3 nanosheets were assembled on electrospun TiO2 nanofibers template by a hydrothermal technique. For the obtained one-dimensional In2S3/TiO2 hierarchical heterostructures (1D In2S3/TiO2 H-HSs), the density and size of the secondary In2S3 nanosheets could be controlled by adjusting the reactant concentrations for the preparation of In2S3 in the hydrothermal process. The 1D In2S3/TiO2 H-HSs exhibited higher visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Methyl orange (MO) and the reduction of Cr(VI), as compared with the pure TiO2 nanofibers and pure In2S3 nanosheets. The enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity might be attributed to the extended absorption in the visible light region from the narrow band-gap In2S3, the effective photogenerated electron hole separation by the photosynergistic effects of the In2S3/TiO2 H-HSs and quick electron-transfer in the 1D TiO2 nanofibers. Meanwhile, the 1D In2S3/TiO2 H-HSs could be recycled easily by sedimentation due to their nanofibrous nonwoven web structure. Moreover, the mechanisms of photodegradation of MO and photoreduction of Cr(VI) were proposed through systematical investigations. This work provided new insights into utilizing 1D In2S3/TiO2 H-HSs as high efficiency visible-light-driven photocatalysts for environmental remediation and energy conversion. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.