Synthesis, characterization, and nitrogen concentration depended visible-light photoactivity of nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanosheets with dominant (001) facets

Wei Wang, Chunhua Lu, Mingxing Su, Yaru Ni, Zhongzi Xu

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20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anatase TiO2 nanosheets with dominant (001) facets were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. Nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanosheets (TiO2-N) with different nitrogen concentration were successfully synthesized by annealing TiO2 nanosheets in NH3 atmosphere with different NH3 flow rate at 400 °C for 3 h. The morphology, nanostructures, and properties of TiO2-N were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. The effects of NH3 flow rate on the nanostructures, properties, and visible-light photoactivity in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution under visible light (λ > 400 nm) irradiation of the prepared photocatalysts were investigated. Among all the prepared photocatalysts including nitrogen modified P25 (Degussa), TiO2-N prepared with a NH3 flow rate of 40 ml/min gave the highest visible-light photoactivity because of the dominant (001) facets, visible light responsibility, the slowest photogenerated electron (e-) and hole (h+) pairs recombination rate, and the highest hydroxyl radicle (•OH) generation ability. Based on these experiments and analysis, the mechanisms of how the nitrogen concentration affects the visible-light photoactivity of TiO2-N were proposed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)629-636
Number of pages8
JournalChinese Journal of Catalysis
Volume33
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2012

Keywords

  • (001) facets
  • Nitrogen concentration
  • Nitrogen doping
  • Photoactivity
  • Titanium dioxide nanosheet

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