Preparation and Photocatalytic Property of NiO/ZnO Heterostructured Nanofibers

Heterostructured NiO/ZnO composite nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning technique employing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Zinc acetate as precursors and then solvothermal growth of NiO nanostructures on as-electrospun ZnO nanofibers substrate. The morphology and structure of NiO/ZnO composite nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high-resolution transmission elec- tron microscope (HRTEM) and PL spectra. Photocatalytic activity was tested via rhodamine B (RB) degradation as the model reaction. The results showed that the as-fabricated sample were composed of NiO nanoparticles assem- bling uniformly on the surface of ZnO nanofibers to form NiO/ZnO heterostructures. Compared with the pure ZnO nanofibers, NiO/ZnO composite nanofibers exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of RB under ultraviolet light. This material also shows good catalytic stability and the decolorizing efficiency of RB solu- tion remains as high as 89% after 3 times recycle. Moreover, it is easily separated, removed from the system after