Mesoporous silica-based carbon dot/TiO2 photocatalyst for efficient organic pollutant degradation

• Carbon dot and Ti were introduced into mesoporous silica synchronously.
• The mesoporous composite possesses ordered mesopores and large surface area.
• The mesoporous composite has wide range of light absorption from UV to near IR range.
• The co-incorporation promotes the separation and transfer of photo-induced charges.
• Greatly enhanced photocatalytic activity was achieved.

Carbon dots (CD) and Ti species were assembled in the mesoporous silica matrix by a one-pot co-condensation strategy. The CD and Ti in the silica matrix were demonstrated to interact in two ways: on the one hand, part of the carbon in CD was doped into the Ti species; on the other hand, CD worked as photosensitizers for Ti species. The synergy effect between CD and Ti in the silica matrix along with the unique physical properties of the composite including ordered pore channels, large surface area and wide-range light absorption from UV to near IR made this composite be an excellent photocatalyst, as demonstrated by the photocatalytic degradation of azo dye acid orange 7. In addition to the degradation of organic pollutant, this newly developed mesoporous composite is expected to have promising applications in various areas related to environment and energy such as photoreduction of CO2 and photocatalytic H2 production.

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