In situ growth of ZnO/Ag2O heterostructures on PVDF nanofibers as efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysts

Abstract

ZnO has been widely employed in the photodegradation of pollutants; however, it exhibits poor photocatalytic performance under visible light illumination. Thus, visible-light-driven heterostructured PVDF/ZnO/Ag2O photocatalysts were fabricated by combining the electrospinning, hydrothermal, and in situ deposition techniques. As matrix materials, it is easy to recycle and reuse electrospun PVDF nanofibers. ZnO nanorods anchored on PVDF nanofibers with a high specific surface area provide an abundance of photocatalytically active sites. As a photosensitizer, silver oxide nanoparticles enhance the visible-light photocatalytic efficiency. Thus, the composited PVDF/ZnO/Ag2O photocatalysts exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance under both UV and visible light irradiation as a result of the enhanced electron-hole separation/transfer and broadened visible light absorption range. Under visible light irradiation, the kinetic constant of PVDF/ZnO/Ag2O nanocomposites is 24.4 and 6.73 times greater than that of PVDF/Ag2O and PVDF/ZnO, respectively. Moreover, the PVDF/ZnO/Ag2O nanocomposites exhibit advantages in recycling and reusing with high stability, thus considerably widening their practical applications in the field of environmental remediation.