Ag/TiO2 nanofibers heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic activity for parathion

Abstract Ag/TiO 2 nanofibers heterostructure were fabricated by calcination of electrospun PVP/Ti(OiPr) 4 /AgNO 3 composite nanofibers and characterized by XRD, FESEM, EDS, and (HR)TEM. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/TiO 2 in the decomposition of parathion was also investigated. It was found that the prepared heterostructure composite included Ag nanoparticles distributed uniformly in the TiO 2 nanofibers. Comparing with pure TiO 2 nanofibers and Ag nanofibers, Ag/TiO 2 heterostructure photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet light irradiation in the decomposition of parathion aqueous solution. The content of Ag nanoparticles on TiO 2 nanofibers played an important role in photocatalytic performance during the parathion degradation reaction. 4% Ag was found to be the optimum doping dosage.