title: Direct synthesis of novel vanadium oxide embedded porous carbon nanofiber decorated with iron nanoparticles as a low-cost and highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst.
abstract: Template-free porous carbon nanofibers embedded by vanadium oxide and decorated with iron nanoparticles (Fe@V-CNF) were prepared in a time and cost-saving manner by combining electrospinning and heat treatment processes. Cost-saving ammonium metavanadate was used as a semiconductor precursor of vanadium oxide (VOx) as well as porogen. The generated pores in the carbon nanofiber (CNFs) matrix formed pathways between the embedded VOx and the surface of CNFs and Fe NPs, thus, facilitate photo-generated electron transfer. The characterization results revealed that Fe@V-CNF comprised graphitic fibers with well-dispersed distribution of nanosized Fe NPs (~7 nm) along the surface of CNF. Thereby, it enhanced the visible-light harvesting. The prepared Fe@V-CNF had remarkable light absorption in the visible region. It demonstrated much higher photocatalytic efficiency of photodegradation of organic dyes compared with the pure CNF and vanadium oxide embedded CNF (V-CNF). Notably, Fe@V-CNF achieved 99.9% dye degradation within 15-20 min. And, it could be conveniently recycled due to its one-dimensional nanostructural property.
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNEP TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Study, Tongji University, Siping Rd 1239, Shanghai 200092, China; Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza 12112, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed Aboueloyoun
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNEP TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Study, Tongji University, Siping Rd 1239, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Amir A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hriez
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNEP TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Study, Tongji University, Siping Rd 1239, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Yi-nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNEP TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Study, Tongji University, Siping Rd 1239, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNEP TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Study, Tongji University, Siping Rd 1239, Shanghai 200092, China. Electronic address: fengting@mail.tongji.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Fengting
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Iron nanoparticles; Photodegradation; Porous CNF; Vanadium oxide; Visible-light