Fabrication and characterization of electrospun orthorhombic InVO4 nanofibers

The novel orthorhombic InVO₄ nanofibers have been successfully synthesized by annealing electrospun precursor fibers. Citric acid was used as a ligand for it could react with metal salts to get a transparent homogeneous precursor solution and homogeneous precursor sol for electrospining. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP, K-30) was used as a binder and a structure guide reagent because it was one kind of water-soluble polymers. It is easy to gain one-dimensional materials while the viscosity of the citrate/PVP sol was suitable. The structure, morphology and photocatalytic properties of the nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, UV-vis spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The nanofibers calcined at 700 °C were orthorhombic InVO₄ with a width in the range of 30-100 nm and length in micron-grade. This one-dimensional pure orthorhombic InVO₄ had the higher photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The photo-degradation rate of nitrobenzene aqueous solution under visible light reached 69% after 6 h. It is obvious that the orthorhombic InVO₄ nanofibers have a potential application in wastewater-treatment.