TiO2/NiO hybrid shells: p-n junction photocatalysts with enhanced activity under visible light

Mesoporous hybrid shells of TiO2/NiO were prepared by sequential coating of TiO2 and NiO on SiO2 nanospheres through a combined sol-gel and hydrothermal process followed by calcination and template removal. Evaluation of visible light photocatalytic activities in dye degradation and H-2 production demonstrated their superior performance, which could be attributed to the porous nature of the hybrid shells and the enhanced charge separation and visible-light absorption associated with the introduction of NiO.