Carbon Black-Doped Anatase TiO₂ Nanorods for Solar Light-Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

Abstract

In this work, C-doped TiO2 nanorods were synthesized through doping carbon black into hydrothermally synthesized solid-state TiO2 nanowires (NWs) via calcination. The effects of carbon content on the morphology, phase structure, crystal structure, and photocatalytic property under both UV and solar light by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) were explored. Besides, the photoelectrochemical property of C-TiO2 was systematically studied to illustrate the solar light degradation mechanism. After doping with C, TiO2 NWs were reduced into nanorods and the surface became rough with dispersed particles. Results showed that C has successfully entered the TiO2 lattice, resulting in the lattice distortion, reduction of band gap, and the formation of C–Ti–O, which expands TiO2 to solar light activation. Comparing with P25 and anatase TiO2 NWs, doping with carbon black showed much higher UV light and solar light photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity was characterized via the degradation of MB, showing that K ap was 0.0328 min–1 under solar light, while 0.1634 min–1 under UV irradiation. The main free radicals involved in methylene blue degradation are H+ and OH•–. Doping with carbon black led to the reduction of photocurrent in a long-term operation, while C-doping reduced the electron–hole recombination and enhanced the carrier migration.

One-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Precious Metal-Doped Titanium Dioxide–Graphene Oxide Composites for Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to Ethanol

“…The TiO 2 /graphene composite is a high-performance photocatalyst with enhanced light adsorption and high surface activity. Various methods have been demonstrated for the synthesis of TiO 2 /graphene composites, including the sol–gel, , solvothermal, − and hydrothermal methods. − The hydrothermal method offers good control over the growth of TiO 2 crystal structures and can be carried out at a relatively lower temperature. Because GO can be thermally damaged at a temperature higher than 150 °C, , the lower synthesis temperature can be of great advantage.…”

AuAg Nanoparticles Grafted on TiO2@N-Doped Porous Carbon: Improved Depletion of Ciprofloxacin under Visible Light through Plasmonic Photocatalysis

“…The C 1s region for 2 and 3 is fitted into three main peaks at 285.0, 286.3 and 288.8 ( 2 ) or 285.0, 286.3 and 288.5 eV ( 3 ). The lowest binding energy peak at 285.0 eV corresponds to single C-C/C-H binding; since the presence of N in the sample is almost negligible, the deconvoluted peaks at 286.3 and 288.5 eV could be assigned to C-O and C=O bonds, respectively [ 24 ]. These peaks would confirm the interaction between NPC and TiO 2 and rule out the TiO 2 doping.…”

Enhanced charge separation in TiO2/nanocarbon hybrid photocatalysts through coupling with short carbon nanotubes

“…The slight shi in anatase modes observed in the Raman and XRD spectra generally correlates with the external perturbation by SWCNTs and the corresponding substitution of Ti 4+ by C atoms, resulting in the formation of Ti-O-C bonds in the TiO 2 lattice. [49][50][51][52] However, band gaps of TiO 2 and TiO 2 -short SWCNT (calculated from UV-Vis spectra in Fig. S4 †) are 3.22 and 3.19 eV, respectively, suggesting low-carbon doping in the composite.…”