title: Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesized N-doped titanate nanotubes.
abstract: Microwave-induced nitrogen-doped titanate nanotubes (NTNTs) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Zeta potential analysis, specific surface area (SBET), and UV-Visible spectroscopy. TEM results indicate that NTNTs retain a tubular structure with a crystalline multiwall and have a length of several hundred nanometers after nitrogen doping. XRD findings demonstrate that the crystalline structure of NTNTs was dominated by anatase, which is favored for photocatalytic application. The Ti-O-N linkage observed in the XPS N 1s spectrum is mainly responsible for narrowing the band gap and eventually enhancing the visible light photoactivity. FT-IR results demonstrated the existence of H₃O⁺, which could be excited by photo-generated holes to form hydroxyl radicals and degrade environmental pollutants. After sintering at 350°C, the UV-Vis absorbance edges of NTNTs significantly shift to the visible-light region, which indicates N atom doping into the nanotubes. Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) via NTNTs show good efficiency, with pseudo first-order kinetic model rate constants of 3.7 × 10⁻³, 2.4 × 10⁻³ and 8.0 × 10⁻⁴ sec⁻¹ at pH3, 7, and 11, respectively.
authors: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China. Electronic address: 499522256@qq.com.
authors: Caiyun
authors: C
authors: Yan
authors: Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Nanto 54561, Taiwan, Chinese Taibei.
authors: Ku-Fan
authors: KF
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 40601, Taiwan, Chinese Taibei.
authors: Chia-Hsiang
authors: CH
authors: Lai
authors: College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors: Shiau-Wu
authors: SW
authors: Lai
authors: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Chang
authors: College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: yppeng0124@scut.edu.cn.
authors: Yen-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Peng
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008872:Microwaves; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012235:Rhodamines; D014025:Titanium; C029773:rhodamine B
keywords: Microwave hydrothermal; Photocatalytic degradation; Titanate nanotubes