Nitrogen doping-mediated oxygen vacancies enhancing co-catalyst-free solar photocatalytic H2 production activity in anatase TiO2 nanosheet assembly
Abstract
Introducing oxygen vacancies (Vo) into TiO2 photocatalyst has been considered an effective strategy for improving co-catalyst-free solar photocatalytic activity. However, the methods used to synthesize it require high pressure/temperature and/or hazardous/costly reagents. Here we propose Vo introduction, concomitant with N-doping in TiO2, as an alternative strategy for achieving efficient co-catalyst-free solar photocatalytic activity under less extreme conditions. After calcination at 450 °C of mesoporous spherical assemblies of a layered titanate nanosheet containing N,N-dimethylformamide as its synthesis solvent in the structure, we successfully synthesized mesoporous spherical assemblies of nanosheets composed of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with Vo mediated by N doping. This material exhibits good co-catalyst-free solar photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution via water splitting under irradiation with simulated solar light, which is considerably higher than that of typical co-catalyst-free defective TiO2 materials. We discuss the possible role of the introduced Vo in facilitating charge separation and raising photocatalytic efficiency.
- Publication:
-
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
- Pub Date:
- May 2021
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.119755
- Bibcode:
- 2021AppCB.28519755E
- Keywords:
-
- Nitrogen doping;
- Oxygen vacancy;
- Defective TiO<SUB>2</SUB>;
- Photocatalyst;
- Hydrogen evolution