Synthesis and characterization of carbon-modified titania photocatalysts with a hierarchical meso-/macroporous structure

Carbon-modified TiO2 photocatalysts with a hierarchical meso-/macroporous structure were prepared through direct hydrolyzation of n-tetrabutyl titanate in the dodecylamine solution and subsequent calcination under nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen sorption analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. A well-defined hierarchical macrochannel-like structure of mesoporous nanoparticle assembly with a predominant anatase phase was observed in the synthesized carbon-modified titania materials, exhibiting obviously high absorption in the wavelength range of 400–800 nm. It is revealed that carbon could not only substitute partly Ti in the form of Ti–O–C bond but also substitute O in the form of O–Ti–C, besides amorphous interstitial carbon atoms were synchronously introduced, benefitting the improvement of solar light photocatalytic activity. The synthesized hierarchical carbon-modified titanias materials exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance in the photodegradation of Rhodamine B dye, suggesting their promising potential as effective solar photocatalysts for organic waste degradation.