f Design of a novel dual Z-scheme photocatalytic system composited of Ag2O modified Ti3+ self doped TiO2 nanocrystals with individual exposed (001) and (101) facets

A novel dual Z-scheme photocatalytic system composited of Ag2O nanocrystals modified Ti3+ self doped TiO2 nanocrystals with individual exposed (001) and (101) facets were successfully fabricated. In which, the Ti3+ self doped TiO2 nanocrystals with individual exposed (001) and (101) facets have been firstly prepared by a simple hydrothermal method, subsequently the as-prepared products were modified with Ag2O nanocrystals through a sonochemical depositing process in order to build a novel dual Z-scheme photocatalytic system. The samples were carefully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), and BrunauerEmmett-Teller (BET). The photocatalytic activity toward degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh B) aqueous solution under stimulated solar light was investigated. The experimental results showed this new dual Z-scheme photo catalytic system possess an enhanced photocatalytic degradation activity compared to that similar surface heterojunction photocatalysts composed of Ti3+ self doped TiO2 nanocrystals with individual exposed (001) and (101) facets. This novel photocatalytic system presents a high charge-separation efficiency and strong redox ability. This study will help us to better understand the photocatalytic mechanism of semiconductor photocatalysts with exposed different facets, and provide a new insight into the design and fabrication of advanced photocatalytic materials. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.