Hierarchical architectures of ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) solid solution onto TiO sub(2) nanofibers with high visible-light photocatalytic activity

A unique hierarchical architecture of ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) solid solution nanostructures onto TiO sub(2) nanofibers (TiO sub(2)ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3)) has been successfully fabricated by simple hydrothermal method. The ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) solid solution nanostructures exhibit a diversity of morphologies: nanosheet, nanorod and nanoparticle. The porous TiO sub(2) nanofiber templates effectively inhibit the aggregation growth of ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) solid solution. The formation of ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) solid solution is proved by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the intimate contact between TiO sub(2) nanofibers and ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) solid solution favors fast transfer of photogenerated electrons. The trinary TiO sub(2)ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) heterostructures exhibit high adsorption capacity and visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B dye (RhB), remarkably superior to pure TiO sub(2) nanofibers or binary structures (ZnS/TiO sub(2) nanofibers, In sub(2)S sub(3)/TiO sub(2 ) nanofibers and ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) solid solution). Under visible light irradiation the RhB photocatalytic degradation rate over TiO sub(2)ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) heterostructures is about 16.7, 12.5, 6.3, 5.9, and 2.2 times that over pure TiO sub(2) nanofibers, ZnS nanoparticles, In sub(2)S sub(3)/TiO sub(2) nanofibers, ZnS/TiO sub(2) nanofibers, and ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) solid solution, respectively. Furthermore, the TiO sub(2)ZnS-In sub(2)S sub(3) heterostructures show highly stable recycling performance.