One-step solvothermal synthesis of Au-TiO2 loaded electrospun carbon fibers to enhance photocatalytic activity

Au-TiO2/CNFs composite materials were fabricated by electrospinning, high-temperature calcination, and solvothermal synthesis. After the one-step solvothermal synthesis, both gold and TiO2 nanoparticles were loaded on the surface of carbon nanofibers simultaneously. A series of characterizations including SEM, TEM, XRD and XPS were carried out to investigate the physicochemical properties of the as prepared samples. The as-prepared Au-TiO2/CNFs exhibited a much higher photocatalytic activity than TiO2/CNFs in degrading MO, MB, and AR 18 under UV light irradiation, in which TiO2/CNFs sample was fabricated by the same procedures without the addition of Chloroauric acid. Moreover, the cycling tests demonstrated that Au-TiO2/CNFs had an excellent stability. This work offered a new idea on the modification and immobilization of titanium dioxide and the as-prepared Au-TiO2/CNFs has a potential application in sewage treatment and selective oxidation, etc. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.