Effect of the morphology of V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructures on the visible light photocatalytic activity

• TiO2/V2O5 nanoheterostructures with various morphologies were synthesized.
• The optimum annealing temperature for V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructures is 400 °C.
• The optimum V/Ti molar ratio for V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructures is 1:1.
• The relation between morphology and photocatalytic efficiency was proposed.

The V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructures with various morphologies were prepared by typical one-step electrospinning process. The effect of annealing temperatures and V/Ti molar ratio on the visible light photocatalytic activity of V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructures was investigated by photodegradation of the Rhodamine B (RhB). The experimental results indicated that the annealing temperature and V/Ti molar ratios were important factors for the morphology of samples which influenced the number of efficient V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructure. The V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructures annealed at 400 °C with the V/Ti molar ratio of 1:1 exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency. Beyond 400 °C, the growth of V2O5 grains enhanced and big V2O5 rods formed on the V2O5/TiO2 nanofibers, so the efficient V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructures decreased, leading to the lower photocatalytic efficiency. The lower or higher V/Ti molar ratio could decrease the number of efficient V2O5/TiO2 nanoheterostructures, which reduced the photocatalytic activity.