A facile synthesis of Zn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with highly exposed (001) facets for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Abstract

It is a great challenge to simultaneously improve the visible light absorption capacity and enhance photon-generated carrier separation efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein, Zn-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles with high exposure of the (001) crystal face were prepared via a one-step hydrothermal decomposition method. A detailed analysis reveals that the electronic structures were modulated by Zn doping; thus, the responsive wavelength was extended to 600 nm, which effectively improved the visible light absorption of TiO₂. More importantly, the surface heterojunction of TiO₂ was created because of the co-existing specific facets of (101) and (001). Therefore, the surface separation efficiency of photogenerated electron and hole pairs was greatly enhanced. So, the optimal TiO₂ photocatalyst exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, in which the Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation efficiency was 98.7% in 60 min, under the irradiation of visible light. This study is expected to provide guidance for the rational design of TiO₂ photocatalysts.