Visible-light-driven catalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin on metal (Fe, Co, Ni) doped titanate nanotubes synthesized by one-pot approach

In this work, Fe-series (Fe, Co, Ni) doped titanate nanotubes were synthesized via a simple, one pot hydrothermal process using commercial TiO2 powder as the precursor. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-Vis. SEM and TEM results show that regularly uniform nanotubes were obtained and they possess homogeneous tubular structures with open ends. There is no significantly morphological and structural difference between TiNTs and Fe-series doped TiNTs. Furthermore, the photocatalytic properties of TiNTs and Fe-series doped TiNTs were studied using the degradation of ciprofloxacin. Fe-series doped TiNTs exhibit higher catalytic activities than those of TiNTs and commercial TiO2.