Direct electrospinning of α-Fe2O3/Bi2WO6 heterostructured nanotubes with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance

• α-Fe2O3/Bi2WO6 nanotubes were prepared by electrospinning and sintering process.
• The morphology features can increase the contact area between catalysts and dyes.
• The heterojunctions are in favor of the separation of photo-induced carriers.
• α-Fe2O3/Bi2WO6 nanotubes show a higher photocatalytic property than Bi2WO6.

One-dimensional (1D) α-Fe2O3/Bi2WO6 heterostructured nanotubes with the diameter of about 300 nm were successfully synthesized by using direct strategy combining an electrospinning technique with a sintering process. The obtained samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The heterostructured nanotubes are made up of Bi2WO6 nanosheets and α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and this kind of novel morphology is responsible for the large specific surface area which can improve the visible light photocatalytic performance. The α-Fe2O3/Bi2WO6 heterostructured nanotubes exhibit a highly improved photocatalytic performance compared with the pure phase Bi2WO6 materials for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye driven by the visible light.

The proper morphology of nanotubes constituted of nanosheets and nanoparticles can increase the specific surface area which increases the contact area between photocatalysts and reactants; in addition, the construction of α-Fe2O3/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions is be beneficial to hinder the recombination of photo-induced electron/hole, and thus improves the photocatalytic efficiency under the visible light irradiation.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide