In situ coupling of Ti2O with rutile TiO2 as a core–shell structure and its photocatalysis performance

Abstract

The fabrication of high-performance, low-cost photocatalysis materials, which absorb in the visible-light region, is of significance for their practical applications. A Ti₂O@TiO₂ (rutile) core–shell structure was fabricated through dehydrogenation and oxidation from TiH₂. Thermal analysis indicates that a bimodal oxidation behavior accounts for the formation of a bi-phasic composite. The response of the composite under UV and visible light was measured by PL (photoluminescence) spectra and a photo-degradation test. A pronounced improvement in photo-degradation performance is attributed to the synergistic function of exciton separation of the core–shell structure and the visible light response of the Ti₂O cores.