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Enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance of heterostructured TiO2-based nanoparticles decorated nanotubes

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Abstract

Titanium oxide nanotubes were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 powder in NaOH aqueous solution and subsequently calcined. Titanium oxide nanotubes were further decorated by TiO2 nanoparticles through in situ hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide containing alcohol and ammonia in an aqueous medium to form the composite catalyst (TNP/TiO2NTs). The morphology and structure of TNP/TiO2NTs were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis, and Raman spectra. The separation efficiency of photo-excited carriers was investigated by photoluminescence technique and photoelectrochemical behavior. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange. Due to the synergy effect caused by the interaction of titanium oxide nanotubes and TiO2 nanoparticles, the TNP/TiO2NTs composite shows efficient photogenerated carriers’ separation and the increased light absorption. The photocatalytic activity was enhanced.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. 2015A030313715), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51661145022). The authors declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CASKey Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Liangpeng Wu, Xu Yang, Yanqin Huang & Xinjun Li

  2. The State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Liangpeng Wu

  3. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New and Renewable Energy Research and Development, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Liangpeng Wu, Xu Yang, Yanqin Huang & Xinjun Li

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  1. Liangpeng Wu
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Correspondence to Xinjun Li.

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Wu, L., Yang, X., Huang, Y. et al. Enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance of heterostructured TiO2-based nanoparticles decorated nanotubes. Appl. Phys. A 123, 403 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-017-1022-2

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