Synthesis of TiO(2)/WO(3) Composite Nanofibers by a Water-Based Electrospinning Process and Their Application in Photocatalysis

TiO(2)/WO(3) nanofibers were prepared in a one-step process by electrospinning. Titanium(IV) bis(ammonium lactato)dihydroxide (TiBALDH) and ammonium metatungstate (AMT) were used as water-soluble Ti and W precursors, respectively. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and varying ratios of TiBALDH and AMT were dissolved in a mixture of H(2)O, EtOH and CH(3)COOH. The as-spun fibers were then heated in air at 1 °C min(−1) until 600 °C to form TiO(2)/WO(3) composite nanofibers. Fiber characterization was done using TG/DTA, SEM–EDX, FTIR, XRD, and Raman. The annealed composite nanofibers had a diameter range of 130–1940 nm, and the results showed a growth in the fiber diameter with an increasing amount of WO(3). The photocatalytic property of the fibers was also checked for methyl orange bleaching in visible and UV light. In visible light, the photocatalytic activity increased with an increase in the ratio of AMT, while 50% TiBALDH composite fibers showed the highest activity among the as-prepared fibers in UV light.