Electrospun composite nanofibers prepared by varying concentrations of TiO2/ZnO solutions for photocatalytic applications

•Electrospun TiO2, ZnO and TiO2/ZnO composite nanofibers are studied.•Composite nanofibers exhibited the anatase-TiO2 and wurtzite- ZnO phases.•FESEM study evidenced the smooth, long and randomly aligned nanofibers.•SAED analysis showed the polycrystalline nature and coincided with the XRD result.•Composite nanofibers (TZ13) endorsed the best photodegradation of the EBT dye. We present the electrospinning preparation and investigation of metal oxides TiO2 (T), ZnO (Z) and TiO2/ZnO (TZ) composite nanofibers. For the fabrication of TZ composite nanofibers, different proportions of TiO2/ZnO solutions (1:1, 1:2, 2:1 and 1:3) are preferred. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of sample ‘T’ exhibited the mixed anatase and rutile phases while the wurtzite phase is examined in the sample ‘Z’. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) study evidenced the preparation of continuous and randomly oriented nanofibers whereas the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation endorsed the cylindrical morphology of the TZ13-sample with mean diameter of 230 nm. The lattice d-spacing is estimated to be 0.289 nm corresponding to the plane (100) of the hexagonal wurtzite ZnO while selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis endorsed the polycrystalline nature of the TZ13 composite nanofibers. Finally, photodegradation of the Eriochrome black T dye was performed and the catalyst TZ13 showed about 85% photodegradation in 90 min as compared to TZ11, TZ12 and TZ21. This boosted photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the synergetic effect of the TiO2/ZnO composite nanofibers with their distinct morphology. [Display omitted]