Bi2WO6/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composite nanofibers were successfully fabricated by calcining electrospun PVP/RGO/[(NH4)(10)W12O41 + Bi(NO3)(3)] composite nanofibers. The products were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, photoluminescence spectra (PL) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of the samples were determined to explain the mechanism for the significant enhancement of the photocatalytic performance of the Bi2WO6/RGO composite nanofibers. Bi2WO6/RGO composite nanofibers are pure orthorhombic phase with a space group of B2ab, and the diameter is 132 +/- 11 nm. Bi2WO6/RGO composite nanofibers are composed of nanoparticles with the diameter ranging from 30 nm to 50 nm. The Bi2WO6/6% RGO composite nanofibers used for photocatalytic water splitting exhibit the highest H-2 production, which is improved by 5.8 times compared to pure Bi2WO6 nanofibers. This could be ascribed to two points: the one-dimensional Bi2WO6/RGO composite nanofibers constructed by electrospinning technique have a better capability of electron transportation and intimate interfacial contact area between Bi2WO6 and RGO; the addition of RGO gives rise to excellent conductivity which could transfer the photogenerated electrons quickly and inhibit the recombination of electrons and holes. The study provides a new method to prepare photocatalytic material for converting water and solar energy to clean energy.

• Journal: Rsc Advances
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 69
• Pages: 64741-64748
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra09720k
• Year: 2016
• Number:
• Type: