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Highlights: [•] Novel-structured TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers was optimized for H2 generation. [ • ] Vivid changes of physicochemical properties influenced by calcinations temperature. [ • ] Significance of physicochemical properties synergy on H2 generation was revealed. [ • ] The optimized photocatalyst exhibited the highest H2 generation activity. [ • ] Reusable and stable with negligible Cu leaching. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using electrospinning, specially prepared Ti and Sr precursor TiO2/ SrTiO3 composite nanofibers were successfully fabricated. This would ensure the close and uniform contact between TiO2 and SrTiO3, which significantly contributes to the electrons transfer at the interface between the two semiconductors with different band gaps. Meanwhile, the long fibrous structure of TiO2/ SrTiO3 composite nanofibers would further ease the electron transfer, enlarge the specific surface area, and enhance the light absorption capability thus leading to the improvement of photocatalytic efficiency. Because of the above-mentioned advantages, the TiO2/ SrTiO3 composite nanofibers exhibited higher photocatalytic H2 generation efficiency over bare TiO2 nanofibers in a water/methanol sacrificial reagent system under the irradiation of UV light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Through hydrothermally growing SrTiO3 cubics on the surface of electrospun TiO2 nanofibers, SrTiO3/TiO2 nanofibers heterostructures were successfully fabricated in the present study. This process is able to ensure uniform distribution of SrTiO3 on the surface of TiO2 nanofibers and lead to close contact between SrTiO3 and TiO2, which is beneficial for the fast separation of photogenerated electrons and holes so as to suppress the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes at the interphase of SrTiO3 and TiO2. Besides this, the long 1D fibrous structure easy for electron transfer, the hierarchical structure promoting mass transfer and allowing more light reflection and absorption, and the large specific surface area providing more reactions sites to facilitate the reactants to desired oxidation places all together create a synergistic effect on improving the photocatalytic activity of the hierarchical SrTiO3/TiO2 nanofibers heterostructures. Under the irradiation of UV light, in a water/methanol sacrificial reagent system, the SrTiO3/TiO2 nanofibers heterostructures generate five times more H2 than bare TiO2 nanofibers because of its high photocatalytic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, bismuth/titanium oxide (Bi3+/TiO 2) composite nanofibers (herein after referred to as Bi/TiO 2) with enhanced physicochemical properties thus photocatalytic efficiency are successfully synthesized via electrospinning which maximizes the uniformity of Bi and Ti at molecular level. Bi/TiO 2 shows positive characterization through anatase crystallinity, large light utilization rate, high specific surface area and low electron holes pair recombination rate as a result of the novel materials synthesis approach. Glycerol as a typical pollutant of industrial wastewater, is used here to demonstrate the concurrent production of chean water and H 2 over the well synthesized Bi/TiO 2. Bi is incorporated to extend the light absorbance capability of TiO 2 to visible light region. Experimental data shows that 3% Bi/TiO 2 exhibits the highest H 2 generation and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal. The reduction of TOC of 8% means the conversion of glycerol into H 2 has been achieved, which is in favor of the production of clean water from highly polluted glycerol wastewater. An optimization study is undertaken by varying the calcination temperature to investigate properties-activity relationship of the new photocatalyst, which exhibited higher photocatlytic efficiency under both UV–visible and visible light compared with that of bare TiO 2. The mechanism illustration is derived from the novel materials synthesis and property optimization to explain the rationale behind this interesting phenomenon. It is worth to note that Bi/TiO 2 nanofibers represent a promising photocatalyst for environmental remediation and sustainability where it can be potentially used in glycerol by-product or waste from the industry under the renewable solar irradiation to generate H 2 and clean water simultaneously. [Display omitted] • Bi-incorporated TiO 2 nanofibers exhibited to be able to concurrently generate H 2 and clean water under solar irradiation. • Enhanced physico-chemical properties of Bi/TiO 2 nanofibers. • Enlarged specific surface area & unique mesoporosity. • Enhanced light absorption capability for better photocatalytic reaction, and. • Well-dispersed heterojunctions for an efficient electrons-holes separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]