Carbon-incorporated TiO2 microspheres: Facile flame assisted hydrolysis of tetrabutyl orthotitanate and photocatalytic hydrogen production

► A flame-assisted hydrolysis method to obtain microspherical TiO2 was reported for the first time. ► No special equipment or setup is required for the formation of anatase TiO2 microspheres. ► Higher photocatalytic activity was observed for the carbon incorporation photocatalysts. ► A possible mechanism was proposed for the formation of TiO2 microspheres.