Facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of B/N-codoped TiO2 hollow spheres with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity and photoelectrochemical property

•We prepared B/N-THs by facile one-pot hydrothermal method.•The visible absorption of B/N-THs enhanced compared to other samples.•B/N-THs show the highest photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.•Synergetic effect was responsible for the higher photocatalytic activity.

B/N-codoped TiO2 hollow spheres (B/N-THs) were synthesized by facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The B/N-THs have large surface areas (up to 172.1 m2 g−1). The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared THs were evaluated by degradation of Reactive Brilliant Red dye X-3B solution under visible light irradiation. The results showed that B/N-THs exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity due to their high surface area and synergetic effect of B/N-codoped. A photocurrent–time spectrum was examined by anodic photocurrent response to characterize the electron-transferring efficiency in the process of photocatalysis reaction.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide