Enhancement in photocatalytic oxygen evolution via water oxidation under visible light on nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanorods with dominant reactive {102} facets

• We explore photo-oxidation of water over N-doped TiO2.
• Surface of N-doped TiO2 nanorod is exposed with {102} facets dominantly.
• Nanorods showed similar recombination of excitons to that of nanospheres.
• {102} facets tend to convert water into O2 with the simultaneous suppression of ·OH.

The enhancement of O2 evolution via the oxidation of water on {102} facet dominant nitrogen-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) nanorods is described. N-doped TiO2 nanosphere and nanorod were synthesized and subsequent NH3 treatment. 3 atomic% of nitrogen was incorporated into both anatase TiO2 nanocrystals. They show same band gap energies of 2.8 eV and similar lifetime of photo-exciton. The surface of N-doped TiO2 nanorod, however, presents much more dominant amount of {102} facets than that of nanosphere. The low overpotential of the {102} facets results in the selective generation of O2, with the simultaneous suppression of the photocatalytic formation of ·OH.

N-doped TiO2 nanorods dominant with the surface of {102} facets for photocatalytic oxygen evolution via oxidation of water under the irradiation of visible light (λ ≥ 400 nm) is described.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide