One-step synthesis of nanohybrid carbon dots and TiO2 composites with enhanced ultraviolet light active photocatalysis

Abstract

Nano-hybrid composites of carbon dots (CDs) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) were fabricated by a designed one-step solvothermal method. The crystallinity of TiO₂, morphologies and ingredients of the CDs–TiO₂ composites could be adjusted by the reaction time. Furthermore, the measurements of photo-degradation on methyl blue (MB) showed excellent photocatalytic activity of the CDs–TiO₂ composites under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, which was much higher than that of commercial Degussa P25. However, C–TiO₂ composites, which were produced from the CDs–TiO₂ composites by a further calcination, showed more excellent photocatalytic activity for the photo-degradation of methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RB).