Issue 18, 2016

Doping-induced structural evolution from rutile to anatase: formation of Nb-doped anatase TiO2 nanosheets with high photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Semiconductor nanostructures with specially exposed reactive crystal facets are promising to promote photocatalytic/photoelectrochemical reactions. Here, we demonstrate that the introduction of niobium into TiO2 can modify TiO2 surface chemistry, which in turn influences the growth of TiO2 nanostructures from one-dimensional rutile nanorods at a low niobium doping concentration to two-dimensional anatase nanosheets at a high niobium doping concentration. Additionally, the electronic structure, optical properties, and surface activity for O2 adsorption are substantially influenced for Nb-doped TiO2 by electron donation from the niobium dopant, which significantly enhances the light-induced generation of super oxide radicals (O2˙), and thus improves the photocatalytic activity of Nb-doped TiO2.

Graphical abstract: Doping-induced structural evolution from rutile to anatase: formation of Nb-doped anatase TiO2 nanosheets with high photocatalytic activity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Okt 2015
Accepted
30 Okt 2015
First published
30 Okt 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 6926-6932

Doping-induced structural evolution from rutile to anatase: formation of Nb-doped anatase TiO2 nanosheets with high photocatalytic activity

H. Wang, J. Chen, F. Xiao, J. Zheng and B. Liu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 6926 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA08202A

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