A nano-composite comprised of Ti3+-doped TiO2 nanotubes and Ag3PO4 quantum dots with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light

A nano-composite comprised of Ti3+-doped TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) and Ag3PO4 quantum dots was synthesized by a two-step method. With NaBH4 as a reducing agent, Ti3+ was introduced into TNTs. This significantly enhanced the adsorption capability and the absorption of visible light of TNTs, resulting in a better photocatalytic performance. Ag3PO4 quantum dots depositing on TNTs were synthesized via a precipitation method. By using this nano-composite as the photocatalyst, tetracycline (a typical model pollutant) could be degraded efficiently under visible light, and 90% of tetracycline was removed in 8 min. The rapid degradation of tetracycline might be attributed to both the introduction of Ti3+ and the highly efficient separation of electrons and holes resulted from the photocatalytic mechanism of Z scheme. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.