Core-shell Zn-doped TiO(2)-ZnO nanofibers fabricated via a combination of electrospinning and metal-organic chemical vapour deposition RID F-4514-2011

Zn-doped TiO(2) nanofibers shelled with ZnO hierarchical nanoarchitectures have been fabricated combining electrospinning of TiO(2) (anatase) nanofibers and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of ZnO. The proposed hybrid approach has proven suitable for tailoring both the morphology of the ZnO external shell as well as the crystal structure of the Zn-doped TiO(2) core. It has been found that the Zn dopant is incorporated in calcined electrospun nanofibers without any evidence of ZnO aggregates. Effects of different Zn doping levels of Zn-doped TiO(2) fibers have been scrutinized and morphological, structural, physico-chemical and optical properties evaluated before and after the hierarchical growth of the external ZnO shell over the electrospun nanofibers. Moreover, doping promotes the incipient transition from the anatase to rutile phase in the core-shell Zn-doped TiO(2)-ZnO nanostructures at lower temperature than that observed for pure TiO(2). Finally, the present core-shell hierarchical nanofibers possess a very large surface to volume ratio and exhibit a marked cathodoluminescence with a strong UV and visible emission.