A Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dot-Sensitized TiO2 Inverse Opal Film: Preparation, Enhanced Photoelectrochemical and Photocatalytic Performance. Issue 9 (29th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Wenjun; Zhang, Xiaozhe; Zhang, Zuxing; Wang, Wanhua; Xie, Anjian; Xiao, Changhe; Zhang, Hui; Shen, Yuhua
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 162:Issue 9(2015)
• Page Start: H638
• Page End: H644
• Publication Date: 2015-06-29
• Subjects: N-doped Carbon dots -- photocatalysis -- photocurrent -- sensitization -- TiO2 inverse opal; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0651509jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : In this study, a facile strategy for preparing nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) was developed. A novel N-CD-sensitized, three-dimensionally ordered, porous TiO2 inverse opal structure (IOS) using a polystyrene (PS) opal as the template was constructed for the first time. The as-prepared N-CDs/TiO2 IOS shows enhanced photoelectrochemical performance and photocatalytic activity. The photo-response range of the composite film is expanded to the visible region due to the addition of N-CDs and the highly ordered void structure. The photocurrent density of the N-CDs/TiO2 IOS is approximately 6 times higher than that of TiO2 IOS and 18 times that of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The photocurrent density is also enhanced 2-fold through sensitization of the N-CDs compared with that of CDs. In addition, the N-CDs/TiO2 IOS shows better photocatalytic activity in degrading organic dyes than CDs/TiO2 IOS, TiO2 IOS and TiO2 NPs. The good photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance makes N-CDs/TiO2 IOS a promising material in clean energy, water treatment and other applications.