Improving the visible-light photocatalytic activity of interstitial carbon-doped TiO2 with electron-withdrawing bidentate carboxylate ligands

Interstitial carbon-doped anatase TiO2 with bidentate carboxylate ligands (A-C/TiO2) has been prepared through a novel vapour-assisted solvothermal approach and subsequent low temperature calcination process. The bidentate carboxylate ligands could not only strengthen the interaction between the interstitial carbon dopants and TiO2 lattice to narrow the bandgap and enhance the visible-light absorption, but also give rise to the positive shift of the VB edge and cause further bandgap narrowing by inducing the band tail states above the VB edge. These synergistic effects could significantly improve the visible-light photocatalytic activities of interstitial carbon-doped TiO2 on phenol and MO degradation.