Facile synthesis of C, N-TiO₂ nanorods via layered Ti₃O²₇^--TMAH interlaminar bonding interaction and their enhanced catalytic performance

A green and efficient photocatalyst based on C and N co-doped titanium based nanorods (NRs) was prepared by facile hydrothermal synthesis and interlaminar bonding interaction between layered Ti₃O²₇^- and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). TMAH as one of quaternary ammonium-based compounds was used as the doping source of C and N elements. The results showed that C and N co-doping did not affect the anatase crystal structure of TiO₂ NRs. C, N-TiO₂ NRs showed excellent photocatalytic activity for degrading methyl orange under simulated sunlight irradiation. In particular, the 20:1 TiO₂ NRs catalyst showed the best catalytic performance, showing efficient photocatalytic rate of 90%. The photocatalytic reaction kinetics of undoped and doped catalysts was also studied. In addition, reactive species (RSs) experiments showed that hydroxyl radical (OH), superoxide radical anions (O₂-) and photogenerated holes (h⁺) were major active species during the photocatalytic process. The mechanisms of the electrostatic attraction and potential photocatalytic degradation were proposed and discussed.