Visible active N-doped TiO2/reduced graphene oxide for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride

N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles deposited on reduced graphene oxide sheets were successfully prepared by a photoreduction method. The synthesized N-TiO2/rGO composite was characterized by XRD, SERS, XPS, TEM, UV-vis DRS and PL, and its visible-light photocatalytic activity was evaluated by degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The results showed that N-TiO2/rGO composites exhibited a more enhanced photodegradation activity compared to pure TiO2 and N-doped TiO2. Trapping tests indicated that not (OH)-O-center dot and h(+) but O-center dot(2) was chiefly responsible for the photodegradation process. The reusable experiments showed that the prepared N-TiO2/rGO catalyst was stable during the photodegradation of TC. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.