A Visible Light Photocatalyst of Carbonate‐Like Species Doped TiO₂

Abstract

Carbon‐doped TiO2 nanomaterials have been successfully synthesized via an effective two‐step procedure involving hydrothermal method and followed by a low‐temperature calcination treatment process, through which a controllable amount of carbonate‐like species could be incorporated into TiO2. First‐principles calculations suggest the TiO2 doped with carbon in form of carbonate‐like species can effectively extend the adsorption of the material from ultraviolet region to visible light. And it is experimentally found that carbon‐doped TiO2 nanomaterials exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity than reference P25 and TiO2−xNx catalysts toward the liquid‐phase degradation of organic pollutants under visible light (420 nm < λ < 800 nm) irradiation. The presence of synergic effect between carbonate‐like doping and anatase TiO2 is believed to play an essential role in affecting the photocatalytic reactivity, and the response to the visible light is ascribed to the narrowed band gap energy controlled by carbon doping. Moreover, the roles of active species in the photocatalytic process are compared using different types of active species scavengers. Meanwhile, the degradation mechanism of the photocatalysis is proposed. It is hoped that our work could provide valuable information on the design of carbonate‐like doped semiconductor with more excellent properties and set the foundation for the further industrial application.

Coupling copper and hydrogenated TiO2 to bare TiO2 structures for improved photocatalytic performance

“…Although heterogeneous photooxidation catalyzed by semiconducting titania (TiO 2 ) is widely used to degrade various environmental contaminants, it is restricted by low quantum yields in the ultraviolet (UV) region and high carrier recombination rates . The above limitations can be circumvented by combining bare TiO 2 with visible light‐activated semiconductors to generate an electric field at the created heterojunctions and thus enhance visible light harvesting and carrier separation efficiency .…”

Bioinspired multilevel interconnected networks with porous multiwalled nanotubes built by heterogeneous nanocrystallites

“…Besides high transport efficiency and enhanced photo‐absorption, unique surface electronic state along longitudinal directions and higher photocharges separation efficiency can be achieved in such multilevel heterogeneous nanoarchitectures. The similar phase composition and heterojunction of 800°C‐TiO 2 and P25 TiO 2 can achieve similar high photochemical activity . Specifically, the high stability and interfacial contact between two‐phase grains (rutile and anatase) play a significant role in interface modification to construct type Ⅱ heterostructure .…”

“…The similar phase composition and heterojunction of 800°C-TiO 2 and P25 TiO 2 can achieve similar high photochemical activity. 42,51,52 Specifically, the high stability and interfacial contact between two-phase grains (rutile and anatase) play a significant role in interface modification to construct type Ⅱ heterostructure. 41 These heterogeneous 1D nanostructures could further promote photogenerated electron-hole separation.…”