In situ growth of lamellar ZnTiO3 nanosheets on TiO2 tubular array with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

We report a self-sacrificed in situ growth design toward preparation of ZnTiO₃–TiO₂ heterojunction structure. Highly reactive zinc oxide colloidal particles derived by laser ablation in liquids can react with TiO₂ nanotubes to form a lamellar ZnTiO₃ nanosheet structure in a hydrothermal-treatment process. Such hybrid structural product was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the hybrid structure toward degradation of methyl orange (MO) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) molecules was demonstrated and compared with single phase TiO₂, as a result of the efficient separation of light excited electrons and holes at the hetero-interfaces in the two semiconductors.