LAUSR

Abstract Here, we report for the first time on the successful fabrication of size-controlled silver@polyimide (Ag@PI) hybrid nanotubes (NTs) based on a silver ion-induced crosslinking effect via coaxial electrospinning and direct ion exchange-reduction techniques. By simply altering the coaxial electrospinning parameters and concentration of electrospinning solution, the diameter and wall thickness of the Ag@PI hybrid NTs could be finely tuned in the range of 300–900 nm and 50–200 nm, respectively. This hybrid material possesses a special conductive/dielectric-layered nanotubular structure, integrating the advantages of nanoscale silver and PI materials. The photocatalysis of the Ag@PI hybrid NTs was characterized by the decolorization of the Methylene Blue (MB) solution. The decolorization efficiency of MB can be as high as 90% within 210 min in the presence of Ag@PI NTs.