Facile template-free one-pot fabrication of TiO2@C microspheres with high visible-light photocatalytic degradation activity

TiO2@C microspheres were fabricated through facile template-free one-pot hydrothermal reaction, in which ferrocene was first simultaneously used as carbon source and structure directing agent. The composite obtained have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. The results show that the peripheries of the microspheres are stacked by several TiO2 particles. The band gap energy the as-prepared sample is estimated to be 2.26 eV. All carbon species in the composite are modified on the surface of the photocatalyst. The as-prepared TiO2@C microspheres exhibited higher visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic pollutants (Congo red and 4-nitrophenol) than that of N-doped TiO2 catalyst. The •OH radicals formed in the process of photocatalytic degradation were also detected through fluorescence technique.

Graphical abstractTiO2@C microspheres were fabricated through facile template-free one-pot hydrothermal reaction, in which ferrocene was first simultaneously used as carbon source and structure directing agent. The sample exhibited higher visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic pollutants (Congo red and 4-nitrophenol) than that of N-doped TiO2 catalyst.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide