Applied Surface Science, Vol.353, 118-126, 2015
RGO/InVO4 hollowed-out nanofibers: Electrospinning synthesis and its application in photocatalysis
A composite of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and InVO4 nanofiber was successfully synthesized by an electrospinning technique. The as-collected fibers were calcined at 420 degrees C in air and then calcined at 550 degrees C in nitrogen gas to remove polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), which could enable InVO4 to crystallize and protect the RGO from oxidation. The InVO4 in the composite illustrated a hollowed-out fibrous morphology and orthorhombic phase, and RGO nanosheets were nested in the InVO4 nanofibers. The hybrid RGO could produce more hydroxyl groups and a higher oxygen vacancy density on the surface of RGO/InVO4 composite. Compared with pure InVO4, the light absorption range of the as-prepared RGO/InVO4 composite was expanded. In Rh B degradation, the RGO/InVO4 hybrid nanofibers displayed a higher photocatalytic activity than pure InVO4 nanofibers. The enhanced photocatalytic activity might be ascribed to the role of RGO as an electron transporter and acceptor in the composite, which could effectively inhibit the charge recombination and facilitate the charge transfer. The exported electron could attack an O-2 molecule to facilitate the generation of center dot O-2(-) and center dot OH for the photodegradation process of Rh B. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.