Gold-decorated TiO nanofibrous hybrid for improved solar-driven photocatalytic pollutant degradation.

TiO-based nanomaterials are among the most promising photocatalysts for degrading organic dye pollutants. In this work, Au-TiO nanofibers were fabricated by the electrospinning technique, followed by calcination in air at 500 °C. Morphological and structural analyses revealed that the composite consists of TiO nanofibers with embedded Au nanoparticles that are extensively distributed throughout the porous fibrous structure of TiO. The photocatalytic performance of these Au-embedded TiO nanofibers was evaluated in the photodegradation of Rhodamine B and methylene blue under solar simulator irradiation. Compared with pristine TiO nanofibers, the Au-embedded TiO nanofibers displayed far better photocatalytic degradation efficiency. The plasmon resonance absorption of Au nanoparticles in the visible spectral region and the effective charge separation at the heterojunction of the Au-TiO hybrid are the key factors that have led to the considerable enhancement of the photocatalytic activity. The results of this study clearly demonstrate the potential of Au-TiO electrospun nanofibers as solar-light-responsive photocatalysts for the effective removal of dye contaminants from aquatic environments.