Electrospun nanofibers of Bi-doped TiO2 with high photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.

Bi-doped TiO(2) nanofibers with different Bi content were firstly prepared by an electrospinning method. The as-prepared nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence spectra (PL), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results indicated that Bi(3+) ions were successfully incorporated into TiO(2) and extended the absorption of TiO(2) into visible light region. The photocatalytic experiments showed that Bi-doped TiO(2) nanofibers exhibited higher activities than sole TiO(2) in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm), and 3% Bi:TiO(2) samples showed the highest photocatalytic activities. Copyright Â