Novel synthesis of N-doped TiO2 flower-like microspheres with excellent photocatalytic activity for removal of Cr(VI) and methylene blue

• Published in: Materials letters 2023-03, Vol.334, p.133745, Article 133745
• Main Authors: Wang, Yuan, Chen, Feitai, Li, Youji, Lin, Xiao, Hu, Huan, Yin, Qihang, Hu, Guoliang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Flower-like microspheres; Nanocrystalline materials; Photocatalysis; Semiconductors
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2022.133745

[Display omitted] •N-TFMs were prepared by a novel solvothermal route followed by calcination.•N doping was achieved without adding additional nitrogen source during annealing.•N-TFMs were assembled from ultrathin nanosheets with a thickness of ca. 3 nm.•Photocatalytic activity of N-TFMs is much higher than that of commercial P25 TiO2. N-doped TiO2 flower-like microspheres (N-TFMs) were synthesized via a novel solvothermal method followed by calcination. It is found that the flower-like microspheres are 600–800 nm in diameter and consist of ultrathin nanosheet with a thickness of ca. 3 nm, which possess a high specific surface area up to 304 m2/g. Besides, N dopant was effectively incorporated into TFMs and no additional nitrogen source was required during calcination. The synthesized N-TFMs exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity for the removal of Cr(VI) and methylene blue than commercial P25 TiO2 under visible-light irradiation. Owing to the advantages of open-type morphology, ultrathin thickness and novel N doping, the synthesized N-TFMs maybe have a wide application prospect in environmental purification.