Low-temperature synthesis of anatase C-N-TiO2 photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 271; pp. 357 - 361
• Main Authors: Wu, Deyong, Wang, Lianzhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.04.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alkoxyl groups; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Low temperature; Nitrogen doping; Physics; Titanium dioxide; Visible light; Visible light; Alkoxyl groups; Nitrogen doping; Titanium dioxide; Low temperature; Inorganic compounds; Transition element compounds; Nitrogen; Titanium oxide
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.01.202

[Display omitted] ► Low-temperature synthesis of anatase C-N-TiO2 photocatalyst. ► High visible-light-induced activity. ► The existence of retained alkoxyl groups on the anatase surface. ► The synergistic effect between the TiO2 surface complexes and nitrogen doping. Visible-light-activated C-N-TiO2 powders were synthesized by a facile peptization-reflux method at 120°C. The physical and photophysical properties of the photocatalyst have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The as-prepared C-N-TiO2 possessed a diameter of ca. 7nm with anatase crystalline structure, and showed a shift of the absorption edge to a lower energy and a stronger absorption in the visible region. XPS results indicated that the retained alkoxyl groups existed on the surface of TiO2 and the doped nitrogen incorporated in the TiO2 as formation of N-Ti-O and Ti-O-N. And C-N-TiO2 samples had excellent photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation under visible light irradiation, which could be assigned to synergistic effect between the retained alkoxyls and the nitrogen doping.