One Pot Synthesis of CoTiO3-TiO2 Composite Nanofibers and its Application in Dye Degradation

Abstract

CoTiO3-TiO2 composite nanofibrous photocatalysts were synthesized by means of the one-step electrospinning method. The samples were characterized by a range of different methods (XRD, SEM, EPMA, FT-IR, UV-DRS, and TEM). Photocatalytic activity was performed for the degradation of rhodamine 6G under visible light. The results showed that CoTiO3-TiO2 composite photocatalysts were successfully synthesized. The average sizes of the diameters of the composite nanofibers were found to be 300 to 400 nm. The UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra of the CoTiO3-TiO2 composite showed an absorption wavelength, in the visible light region, having a band gap energy value of 2.21 eV. The CoTiO3-TiO2 composite showed higher photocatalytic efficiency than that of pristine TiO2; which can be attributed to the heterojunctional interaction between CoTiO3 and TiO2.