Bi2MoO6/RGO composite nanofibers: facile electrospinning fabrication, structure, and significantly improved photocatalytic water splitting activity

Abstract

Bi2MoO6/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composite nanofibers were successfully fabricated by calcining the electrospun polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/RGO/[(NH4)6Mo7O24 + Bi(NO3)3] composite nanofibers. The products were investigated in detail by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope. The as-prepared Bi2MoO6/RGO composite nanofibers are pure orthorhombic phase with space group of Pbca, and the diameter is 132 ± 18 nm. These nanocomposite samples display high photocatalytic hydrogen production activity in aqueous solutions containing methanol as sacrificial reagent under visible light irradiation. Bi2MoO6/5 % RGO composite nanofibers used as photocatalyst for water splitting exhibit the highest H2 evolution rate of 794.72 μmol h−1, which is improved by 2.86 times compared to Bi2MoO6 nanofibers. The enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen production performance is due to addition of RGO, the intimate interfacial contact and large contact area between Bi2MoO6 nanoparticles and RGO sheets, which help to make full use of the electron conductivity of RGO for transferring the photogenerated electrons and separating the photoproduced carriers. Therefore the electrospinning is a facile and effective technique to fabricate Bi2MoO6/RGO composite nanofibers which could take advantage of solar energy to achieve efficient H2-evolution from water splitting.