Enhanced photocatalytic activity of electrospun TiO2/ZnO nanofibers with optimal anatase/rutile ratio

• ZnO, anatase & rutile composite nanofibers are synthesized by electrospinning.
• Calcination temperature affects nanofiber morphology and composition.
• Synergistic effects among ZnO, anatase & rutile reduce electron–hole recombination.
• Optimal calcination temperature results in highest photocatalytic efficiency.

The photocatalytic characteristics of the TiO2/ZnO nanofibers synthesized by electrospinning followed by calcinating at different temperatures to alter the anatase-to-rutile ratio are investigated. The results demonstrate that the photocatalytic activity of TiO2/ZnO nanofibers is enhanced by optimizing the anatase/rutile ratio among the trade-off effects of the band-gap energy, the electron/hole recombination rate, and the surface area. When calcined at 650 °C, the TiO2/ZnO nanofibers with optimal anatase/rutile ratio (48:52) balancing these trade-off effects have the highest photocatalytic efficiency both in the degradation of RhB in liquid and conversion of NO gas.

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