Facile synthesis of Bi nanoparticle modified TiO2 with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Uniform Bi nanoparticle modified TiO2 porous nanofibers were prepared via the processes of emulsion electrospinning and the subsequent calcination. The morphology, crystal structure, optical and photocurrent responses, as well as the photocatalytic performance of the obtained photocatalysts were characterized and investigated in detail. The results suggest that the modified TiO2 porous nanofibers show significantly enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity, as Bi nanoparticles would largely extend the visible light absorption of TiO2 because of its surface plasmon resonance. The co-existence of the semiconductor behavior of Bi nanoparticles could further prevent the recombination of electrons in the conduction band with holes. Overall, this work provides new insights into the fabrication of TiO2 based composites as high performance photocatalysts, facilitating their application in the environmental protection issues. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.