RGO/InVO4 hollowed-out nanofibers: Electrospinning synthesis and its application in photocatalysis

Abstract A composite of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and InVO 4 nanofiber was successfully synthesized by an electrospinning technique. The as-collected fibers were calcined at 420 °C in air and then calcined at 550 °C in nitrogen gas to remove polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), which could enable InVO 4 to crystallize and protect the RGO from oxidation. The InVO 4 in the composite illustrated a hollowed-out fibrous morphology and orthorhombic phase, and RGO nanosheets were nested in the InVO 4 nanofibers. The hybrid RGO could produce more hydroxyl groups and a higher oxygen vacancy density on the surface of RGO/InVO 4 composite. Compared with pure InVO 4 , the light absorption range of the as-prepared RGO/InVO 4 composite was expanded. In Rh B degradation, the RGO/InVO 4 hybrid nanofibers displayed a higher photocatalytic activity than pure InVO 4 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 •O 2 − and •OH for the photodegradation process of Rh B.