Blue Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 nanosheets with rich {001} facets for photocatalytic performance

Abstract

Novel blue Ti³⁺ self-doped TiO₂ nanosheets (BTTNs) with rich {001} facets of 26.4% were synthesized by a modified solvothermal process, and they were characterized in detail by XRD, TEM and Raman spectroscopy, which show that Ti³⁺ was successfully doped into anatase TiO₂, increasing the number of {001} facets. UV-vis analysis shows profound absorption in the visible region and the bandgap energy of B_1.5TTNs is 2.86 eV, which is remarkably smaller than that of pure anatase TiO₂ (3.2 eV). Due to the low bandgap energy and high reactivity of the {001} facets, high photocatalytic activity was achieved. Under simulated solar light irradiation for 70 min, 99% rhodamine B was degraded and successfully detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).