TiO2-
x
N
x
nanocrystallines were prepared by treating the TiO2 precursor in triethylamine/ethanol (Et3N/EtOH)
fluid under supercritical conditions. During photodegradation of p-chlorophenol under irradiation with visible
lights, this catalyst exhibits much higher activity than the N-doped TiO2 obtained via direct calcination. The
promoting effect of the supercritical treatment could be attributed to the high surface area, the highly crystallized
anatase, and the strong interaction of N-dopants with TiO2, leading to the enhanced light harvesting and
reactant adsorption as well as quantum efficiency of photocatalysis via inhibiting the recombination between
photoinduced electrons and holes. Supercritical treatment using Et3N/EtOH fluid results in higher N-content
in the TiO2-
x
N
x
than that using NH3/EtOH fluid. Even with the same N-content, the TiO2-
x
N
x
obtained in
Et3N/EtOH is still much more active than that obtained in NH3/EtOH fluid, possibly owing to the enhanced
surface hydrophobicity which could promote the adsorption of reactant molecules for degradation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.