Well-dispersed Pt nanocrystals on the heterostructured TiO₂/SnO₂ nanofibers and the enhanced photocatalytic properties

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • TiO₂/SnO₂ heterojunctions formed between oxide fibers in the side-by-side structure with Pt nanocrystals in a crystallite size of 4.5 nm uniformly deposited on them. • Pt-TiO₂/SnO₂ nanofibers possessed large surface-exposure area, broadened spectral response range, stable recyclability, and efficient charge-separation properties, resulting in their efficient photocatalytic activity. • The results demonstrated the heterostructured materials as high-performance photocatalysts and their potential use in environmental protection. - Abstract: Heterostructured TiO₂/SnO₂ nanofibers deposited with ultrafine Pt nanocrystals (Pt-TiO₂/SnO₂) were prepared by combining electrospinning and polyol reduced method. The samples have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm analysis. The results indicated that heterojunctions formed between TiO₂ fibers and SnO₂ fibers in the side-by-side structure with Pt nanocrystals in a crystallite size of 4.5 nm uniformly deposited on them. The Pt-TiO₂/SnO₂ nanofibers photocatalysts possessed large surface-exposure area, broadened spectral response range, stable recyclability, and efficient charge-separation properties. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of Pt-TiO₂/SnO₂ for the degradation of methylene blue was much higher than that of bare TiO₂ and SnO₂ nanofibers, which could be ascribed to the formation of heterojunctions in the TiO₂/SnO₂ nanofibers and the rapid transportation of electrons to the surface assisted by Pt nanocrystals. The results presented herein provide new insights into heterostructured materials as high-performance photocatalysts and their potential use in environmental protection