Preparation of electrospun ZnS-loaded hybrid carbon nanofiberic membranes for photocatalytic applications

• Electrospun carbon nanofibrous membranes loaded with graphene oxide and zinc sulfide were prepared.
• The resultant hybrid membranes exhibited excellent mechanical flexibility.
• The resultant hybrid membranes have been used to oxidation of p-aminotoluene and phenol.

In this paper, graphene oxide/polyacrylonitrile (GO/PAN) composite nanofibrous membranes were firstly prepared by an electrospinning method. Then, the GO/PAN composite nanofibrous membranes were further transferred to graphene oxides/carbon nanofibrous membranes (GO-CNFs) by a calcination treatment. Following a solvothermal treatment, zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanopartciles were covered onto GO-CNFs to form electrospun carbon nanofibrous membranes loaded with GO/ZnS (GO/ZnS-CNFs). The composition and microstructure of GO/ZnS-CNFs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra analysis. Due to the synergistic effect between photocatalytic activity of ZnS and excellent adsorption capacity of GO-CNFs, the resultant GO/ZnS-CNFs exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for oxidation of p-aminotoluene and phenol under mild conditions. The resultant hybrid carbon composite membranes offer the significant advantages, such as low dosage, high catalytic activity, easy recycling and excellent stability.

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