TiO2@carbon core/shell nanofibers: Controllable preparation and enhanced visible photocatalytic properties

TiO2@carbon core/shell nanofibers (TiO2@C NFs) with different thinkness of carbon layers (from 2 to 8 nm) were fabricated by combining the electrospinning technique and hydrothermal method. The results showed that a uniform graphite carbon layer was formed around the electrospun TiO2 nanofiber via C-O-Ti bonds. By adjusting the hydrothermal fabrication parameters, the thickness of carbon layer could be easily controlled. Furthermore, the TiO2@C NFs had remarkable light absorption in the visible region. The photocatalytic studies revealed that the TiO2@C NFs exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RB) compared with the pure TiO2 nanofibers under visible light irradiation, which might be attributed to high separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes based on the synergistic effect between carbon as a sensitizer and TiO2 with one dimension structure. Notably, the TiO2@C NFs could be easily recycled due to their one-dimensional nanostructural property.