One-step uniformly hybrid carbon quantum dots with high-reactive TiO₂ for photocatalytic application

High-reactive facets dominated anatase TiO₂ is of great significance to solve environment and energy challenges. Maintaining the pristine structure and improving the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ still need innovation work by employing different modification processes. Here, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were employed to modify TiO₂ with exposed {0 0 1}, {1 0 1}, and {0 1 0} facets by a one-pot hydrothermal method. Results indicate that CQDs can disperse uniformly on TiO₂ surface, and the high-reactive facets are maintained perfectly. The introduced CQDs can both enhance the light absorption and suppress photogenerated electron-hole's recombination. Proper amount of introduced CQDs can both significantly enhance the photocatalytic activities, which are very stable, under the UV and visible light irradiation Corresponding photocatalytic mechanisms are also discussed in the present work.