Ce-modified electrospun In2O3 nanofibers for efficient photocatalytic degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid

초록

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent fluorinated pollutant that resists degradation due to its strong C-F bonds, necessitating efficient photocatalysts for its removal. In this study, Cemodified electrospun In2O3 nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning followed by controlled calcination. Their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties were systematically investigated as a function of polymer content, calcination temperature, and cerium incorporation. Morphological analysis confirmed that uniform and continuous fibrous architectures were obtained at 15 wt% polyvinylpyrrolidone, while calcination at 400 degrees C provided an optimal balance between crystallinity and structural stability. Optical characterization revealed band-gap narrowing, which strongly correlated with enhanced photocatalytic activity. Under UV irradiation, the optimized Ce-In2O3 nanofibers exhibited significantly improved PFOA degradation compared to pristine In2O3 fibers, achieving nearly complete removal under ambient conditions without external heating or extreme pH adjustment. The enhanced performance arises from the synergy between the one-dimensional fibrous network and Ce incorporation. These findings demonstrate that Ce-In2O3 nanofibers as a promising and scalable photocatalytic system for efficient PFOA degradation under mild conditions, highlighting their potential for treating persistent fluorinated pollutants.

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