Carbon Dots Modification Surface of Titanium Dioxide and Their Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

This work, we develop the efficient visible-light-responsive titanium dioxide photocatalyst using carbon dots as a sensitizer (C-dots/TiO2). C-dots was synthesized via a simple one-pot reaction by microwave-assisted pyrolysis method using orange juice as carbon precursors. C-dots/TiO2 samples were prepared by a facile route. Moreover, the micro-structure and optical properties of as-prepared C-dots/TiO2 have been evaluated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS). The modification surface of TiO2 with carbon dots enhanced the light absorption in visible region. The photocatalytic properties of as-prepared pure TiO2 and C-dots/TiO2 were also explored indigo carmine decolorization under visible light. The photocatalytic results revealed that the C-dots/TiO2 exhibited higher catalytic performance than the pure TiO2 under visible light.