Preparation of TiOxNy/TiN composites for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light

Abstract

TiO_xN_y/TiN heterojunction composites with tunable chamber structures were prepared through reduction and nitridation of organotitania obtained via solvothermal alcoholysis at 900 °C for 4 h in partially cracked NH₃. Owing to the low synthesis temperature, TiO_xN_y/TiN duplicates the original structure of organotitania. It also demonstrates an outstanding activity toward hydrogen production as high as 34.9 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹, which is about 1.5 times higher than the highest value reported in the literature for the TiN material. The enhanced photoactivity can be ascribed to the heterojunction structure, which is beneficial for separating the photogenerated carriers in space.