One-dimensional hierarchical heterostructures of In₂S₃ nanosheets on electrospun TiO₂ nanofibers with enhanced visible photocatalytic activity.

In₂S₃ nanosheets were assembled on electrospun TiO₂ nanofibers template by a hydrothermal technique. For the obtained one-dimensional In₂S₃/TiO₂ hierarchical heterostructures (1D In₂S₃/TiO₂ H-HSs), the density and size of the secondary In₂S₃ nanosheets could be controlled by adjusting the reactant concentrations for the preparation of In₂S₃ in the hydrothermal process. The 1D In₂S₃/TiO₂ H-HSs exhibited higher visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Methyl orange (MO) and the reduction of Cr(VI), as compared with the pure TiOv nanofibers and pure In₂S₃ nanosheets. The enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity might be attributed to the extended absorption in the visible light region from the narrow band-gap In₂S₃, the effective photogenerated electron-hole separation by the photosynergistic effects of the In₂S₃/TiO₂ H-HSs and quick electron-transfer in the 1D TiO₂ nanofibers. Meanwhile, the 1D In₂S₃/TiO₂ H-HSs could be recycled easily by sedimentation due to their nanofibrous nonwoven web structure. Moreover, the mechanisms of photodegradation of MO and photoreduction of Cr(VI) were proposed through systematical investigations. This work provided new insights into utilizing 1D In₂S₃/TiO₂ H-HSs as high efficiency visible-light-driven photocatalysts for environmental remediation and energy conversion.