Preparation Bi2S3-TiO2 heterojunction/polymer fiber composites and its photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under Xe lamp irradiation

This paper presented the preparation of Bi2S3-TiO2 heterojunction/polymer fiber composites and their performance of the degradation of methylene blue using Xe lamp irradiation. The polysulphone (PSU)/styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) fibers were prepared by electrospinning. Bismuth ions were introduced onto the surface of polymer fiber by the coordinating of carboxyl of SMA, sulfide ions were incorporated to react with bismuth ions under hydrothermal condition. TiO2 was deposited on the surface of the Bi2S3 by the reaction of titanium ions with urea also under hydrothermal condition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images revealed that Bi2S3-TiO2 heterojunction was uniformly distributed on the surface of PSU/SMA fibers. The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra (UV/VIS) showed that the Bi2S3-TiO2 heterojunction/polymer fiber composites possess good visible-light response ability. The degradation rate of methylene blue in Bi2S3-TiO2 heterojunction/polymer fiber composites system was considerably higher than that of Degussa P25 or Bi2S3-TiO2 heterojunction system under Xe lamp irradiation.