Mesoporous C, N-codoped TiO2 hybrid shells with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance

Mesoporous C, N-codoped TiO2 (C/N-TiO2) hybrid shells incorporated with graphite carbon were synthesized using polystyrene spheres as templates, followed by polyaniline (PANI) and TiO2 coating, and then post-treatments of etching and calcination, where PANI functioned as both C and N doping sources and supplied the graphite carbon. Compared with pure TiO2 and C-doped TiO2 (C-TiO2) hybrid shells, C/N-TiO2 hybrid shells exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of organic dyes and H-2 production under visible light irradiation, which could be attributed to the enhanced visible light absorption and charge separation efficiency associated with the codoped-C and N and the presence of graphite carbon. It is believed that the strategy presented here will provide a promising route for the construction of other C/N-semiconductor hybrid shells for broader applications.