Open AccessPreparation and characterisation of N‐doped SiO 2 at TiO 2 core–shell structural materials and its photocatalytic property
Author(s) -
Liu Hui,
Lv Ting,
Li Guangjun,
Dong Xiaonan,
Zhu Zhenfeng
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2013.0488
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , doping , shell (structure) , core (optical fiber) , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , optoelectronics , catalysis , organic chemistry , engineering
N‐doped SiO 2 at TiO 2 core–shell structural materials has been synthesised successfully via a simple two‐step method. First, SiO 2 spheres were obtained by using a slightly modified Stöber process. Then, N‐doped SiO 2 at TiO 2 were prepared via coating SiO 2 template with TiO 2 layers, followed by N‐doping using NH 4 NO 3 as the N source. According to Kato et al. the as‐obtained products were well characterised by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–vis absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activity of the as‐prepared products was evaluated by photocatalytic decolourisation of rhodamine B aqueous solution at ambient temperature under UV and visible‐light irradiation. The experimental results showed that the diameter of N‐doped SiO 2 at TiO 2 spheres was about 250 nm and the thickness of the TiO 2 shell was 10–20 nm, the products exhibited a high photocatalytic activity because N atoms were incorporated into the titanium dioxide planes to decrease the bandgap energy.