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

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/Ag 2 O 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/Ag 2 O 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/Ag 2 O nanocomposites is 24.4 and 6.73 times greater than that of PVDF/Ag 2 O and PVDF/ZnO, respectively. Moreover, the PVDF/ZnO/Ag 2 O nanocomposites exhibit advantages in recycling and reusing with high stability, thus considerably widening their practical applications in the field of environmental remediation.