Intrinsic carbon-doping induced synthesis of oxygen vacancies-mediated TiO2 nanocrystals: Enhanced photocatalytic NO removal performance and mechanism

Herein, we developed a facile approach to fabricate oxygen vacancies-mediated TiO2 (OVs-TiO2) nanocrystals via an intrinsic carbon-doping induced strategy. The intrinsic carbon-doped TiO2 nanocrystals were firstly synthesized by water-controlled-releasing solvothermal (WCRS) process using ethanol, acetic acid and titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as precursors. The carbon-doped TiO2 was calcined at 325 degrees C under N-2 atmosphere to introduce the OVs. The obtained OVs-TiO2 displayed outstanding photo catalytic NO removal performance under visible light irradiation (lambda>510 nm), in comparison with the commercial P25. With the aid of DFT calculations, we revealed that the intrinsic carbon-doping was beneficial for the formations of OVs in carbon-doped TiO2. Moreover, the OVs played crucial roles in improving light absorption, facilitating charge separation, and activating surface reactions to enhance the photocatalytic NO removal performance. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, oxygen vacancies-mediated TiO2 (OVs-TiO2) nanocrystals were successfully fabricated through an intrinsic carbon-doping induced strategy. The material exhibited outstanding photo catalytic NO removal performance under visible light irradiation after the introduction of oxygen vacancies, which were induced by carbon doping.