One-step growth of Na2Ti3O7 nanorods for enhanced photocatalytic activities and recyclability

The present study uses a facile method to synthesize sodium titanate nanorods on the titanate foil by a novel alkali hydrothermal growth process. The sodium titanate nanorods exhibit a very strong and broad blue emission from surface defect or oxygen vacancies. The photocatalytic properties of sodium titanate nanorods were verified by degradation of rhodamine 6G (R6G) and exhibited higher efficiency under UV light or visible light irradiation. The sodium titanate nanorods on the titanate foil exhibit a facile, low cost, high recyclability, and high enhancement in visible light photocatalytic properties, which may be advantageous for the practical applications in wastewater treatment. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.