Aerosol flow synthesis of N, Si-codoped TiO2 hollow microspheres with enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic performance

In this study, porous N, Si-codoped TiO2 hollow microsphere photocatalysts have been prepared by a facile aerosol flow synthesis method. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, UV–vis DRS, and XPS. The results indicated that both nitrogen doping and formation of TiOSi bond happened in the N, Si-codoped TiO2 hollow microspheres, leading to an enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic performance on degradation of salicylic acid compared with pure TiO2 and single N or Si doped TiO2 counterpart catalysts.

► N, Si-codoped TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by an aerosol flow method.
► Both the nitrogen doping and the formation of TiOSi bond happened in the N, Si-codoped TiO2.
► N, Si-codoped TiO2 showed enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic performance.