Cubic Cu2O nanoparticles decorated on TiO2 nanofiber heterostructure as an excellent synergistic photocatalyst for H2 production and sulfamethoxazole degradation

• Cubic Cu2O (20-−100 nm) synthesis on TiO2 nanofiber. Cube-on-nanofiber showed excellent photocatalytic H2 production and sulfamethoxazole decomposition. Surface modified confirmed by the energy-resolved distribution of electron traps (ERDT). Heterojunction interfaces between cube-on-nanofiber promote charge transfer provide active sites. We report a simple strategy for providing homogenous TiO 2 nanofibre host environment to stabilize Cu O nanoparticles with an average size ∼60 nm high dispersibility. found that small fraction in direct contact/partially submerged arrays (diameter ∼300 length ∼650 synergistic performance H rate 48 μmol g −1 h -1 apparent quantum efficiency 3.6 %. The was much higher (factor ∼6.5 times) compared unmodified -NF. In addition, O/TiO -NF photocatalyst significant oxidative-degradation (7 × 10 -2 mmol min ) highly stable during five cycles. are well dispersed form heterojunction This argument is verified morphology characterisation, band alignment, traps, electrochemical transient photocurrent, impedance (EIS). detailed discussion provided regarding surface bulk elemental composition determined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fluorescence (XRF), absorption near edge structure (XANES).