Abstract. Bi2O3 nanofibers with diameter of 70–200 nm were successfully prepared by electrospinning a precursor mixture of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/bismuth nitrate, followed by calcination treatment of the electrospun polymer/inorganic composite fibers. The resulting Bi2O3 nanofibers were characterized with X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, …