Colored titania nanocrystals and excellent photocatalysis for water cleaning

• Colored titania nanocrystals with disorder shell were obtained by Al reduction.
• As prepared black titania possesses solar energy absorption up to 88%.
• The photocatalysis of black titania increases over 5 times in compared with P25.

Colored titania has attracted enormous attentions due to its visible light absorption and wide range of applications. Here, we demonstrate an effective approach to obtain colored titania with enhancing solar absorption by introducing disorder in the surface of titania through Al reduction. As prepared black TiO2−x possesses solar energy absorption up to 88%. The recombination centers of light-induced electrons and holes are reduced in acid solution, which ensures the excellent photocatalytic activity of the black TiO2 −x in the photo-oxidation of organic molecules in water.

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