Boron-Doped TiO₂ from Anodization of TiB₂ for Efficient Photocatalysis

Abstract

Anodization of TiB2 monolith rather than Ti0 was employed to prepare boron-doped TiO2 photoelectrochemical (PEC) anode and nanocrystals. The anodization behavior of TiB2 was found to be dependent on the orientation of the crystals and F− ions in the electrolyte. TiB2 orientating in [100] direction after anodization in the presence of F− formed a porous TiO2 layer that can be used as a PEC anode, while TiB2 with exposed (001) facets produced a gel containing Ti species in the electrolyte. The PEC anode or nanocrystals from the gel after hydrothermal treatment was boron-doped TiO2 showing superior photocatalytic performance over the counterpart from Ti0 foil for water splitting or Degussa P25 catalyst for dye degradation, respectively. The anodization of conductive ceramic monolith was demonstrated to be a way of preparing doped semiconductors for enhanced photocatalytic performance.

Review and Development of Anode Electrocatalyst Carriers for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

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TiO2 Nanotubes Synthesis with Dominant {001} Exposed Facets for Efficient Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Applications

“…To tune their optical and electrical properties and in order to enhance their solar energy conversion efficiency, significant efforts have been performed to extend the absorption spectrum and to enhance the separation rate of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, by modifying their chemical and bands structures through doping or bandgap engineering. For this purpose, different approaches have been implemented, such as doping with metal, 12 nonmetal 13,14 and metal-nonmetal combinations. 15 Coupling TiNT with narrower band gap semiconductor is also considered as an efficient approach to prevent photogenerated electron-hole recombination.…”

Evaluation of Ni0, NiO, and NiS as a Cocatalyst Modifier on TiO2 Nanotubes Matrix for the Enhancement of Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation of Penicillin G

“…11,12 Other semiconductors as cocatalysts alongside TiO 2 has been found to be suitable for enhancing the photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 nanostructures. [13][14][15] The junction of n-p heterostructures, where n-type semiconductors are blended with p-type semiconductors for instance, 16 can lead to the formation of an electric field at the interface, and this can facilitate the movement of the electrons and holes between the conduction band (CB) of the n-type semiconductor and the valence band (VB) of the p-type semiconductor. 17 This effect leads to the improvement of electron-hole separation, which consequently results in the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance.…”