Synthesis of defect-rich hierarchical sponge-like TiO 2 nanoparticles and their improved photocatalytic and photoelectro
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Synthesis of defect-rich hierarchical sponge-like TiO2 nanoparticles and their improved photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performance Qizhi TIAN1, Yajun JI (✉)1, Yiyi QIAN1, and Abulikemu ABULIZI (✉)2 1 College of Science, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China 2 College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
© Higher Education Press 2020
ABSTRACT: Defect-rich hierarchical sponge-like TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via the combined one-step hydrothermal method and chemical reduction approach. SEM and TEM images showed their porous structure densely packed with even smaller TiO2 particles, while photocatalytic results manifested their superior photocatalytic performance and high stability. The RhB solution (10 ppm) could be absolutely degraded in 60 min, and the degradation rate was twice that of the sample without the treatment by NaBH4. Besides, the TC solution (10 ppm) could be removed by 74.3% in 20 min. PEC measurements also displayed that the photoelectrode based on such defectrich TiO2 nanoparticles had small resistance and improved charge transfer rate. The improved performance can be assigned to rich defects and phase junctions, which was supported by characterization results. The presence of rich defects and phase junctions could not only promote the separation of photogenerated charge carriers, but also accelerate the electron transfer, beneficial for both the photocatalytic and the PEC performance. It is expected that the obtained hierarchical sponge-like TiO2 nanoparticles with rich defects have great potential for photocatalytic applications. KEYWORDS: TiO2; hydrothermal method; nanoparticles; photocatalytic performance; photoelectrochemical performance; defects
Contents 1 Introduction 2 Experimental 2.1 Preparation of hierarchical sponge-like TiO2 2.2 Characterization 2.3 Photocatalytic performance 2.4 PEC measurements 3 Results and discussion
Received March 3, 2020; accepted July 13, 2020 E-mails: [email protected] (Y.J.), [email protected] (A.A)
4 Conclusions Acknowledgements References
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Introduction
In recent years, energy crisis and environmental pollution have been the focus of attention with the economic growth [1]. To tackle such issues, it is considered as an efficient method to utilize semiconductor photocatalysts to achieve solar energy conversion and treatment of contaminants including industrial and medical wastewater [2]. Various
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Front. Mater. Sci.
photocatalysts have been studied, such as Cu2O [3–4], MoS2 [5], and BiVO4 [6–7]. Among them, TiO2 is the most suitable candidate for wastewater treatment due to its cost effectiveness, excellent stability and chemical inertness [8]. Nevertheless, the wide bandgap (3.2 eV for anatase and 3.0 eV for rutile) [9] and the low quantum efficiency of the photocatalytic activity from the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs restrict its further practical applications [10]. Since it has been proven that the phot
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