title: Efficient charge separation based on type-II g-C3N4/TiO2-B nanowire/tube heterostructure photocatalysts.
abstract: Separation of photo-generated charges has played a crucial role in controlling the actual performance of a photocatalytic system. Here we have successfully fabricated g-C3N4/TiO2-B nanowire/tube heterostructures through facile urea degradation reactions. Owing to the effective separation of photo-generated charges associated with the type-II band alignment and intimate interfacial contacts between g-C3N4 and TiO2-B nanowires/tubes, such heterostructures demonstrate an improved photocatalytic activity over individual moieties. Synthetic conditions such as hydrothermal temperatures for the preparation of TiO2-B and the weight ratio of TiO2-B to urea were systematically investigated. A high crystallinity of TiO2-B as well as the proper growth of g-C3N4 on its surface are critical factors for a better performance. Our simple synthetic method and the prolonged lifetime of photo-generated charges signify the importance of type-II heterostructures in the photocatalytic applications.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China. xxxu@tongji.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yinghao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Meilin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaoxiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu