Synthesis, Characterization of Electrospun Mesoporous ZnO/SnO<sub>2</sub> Composites Nanofibers and their Photocatalytic Property

Abstract

Mesoporous ZnO/SnO2 (Zn : Sn = 2 : 1) composite nanofibers with diameter of 49±6 nm and pore size of 6.7 nm were fabricated via the electrospinning technique. Their structure and morphology were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and nitrogen absorption-desorption isotherm analysis. The photocatalytic degradation rate of RhB dye by the mesoporous ZnO/SnO2 composite nanofibers was 0.051 min-1, which was more than two times and seven times of that by the pure ZnO (0.024 min-1) and pure SnO2 (0.007 min-1) nanofibers, respectively. The charge separation of electrons and holes was promoted and the recombination of the hole-electron pairs was reduced because of the coupling effect of ZnO and SnO2 in the grain-like composite nanoparticles, thus the quantum efficiency was increased. A schematic diagram of photocatalytic mechanism of mesoporous ZnO/SnO2 composite nanofibers was presented.