Fabrication of hollow N-doped TiO₂ photocatalyst by spray-induced hydrolysis

Abstract

Hollow particles of nitrogen doped TiO₂ were fabricated by a newly developed method based on the spray-induced hydrolysis. An aqueous solution of urea was sprayed into a titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) / hexane solution, inducing the rapid hydrolysis of TTIP at the interface between the droplets of urea solution and TTIP solution. The resultant hollow particles were converted to N-doped TiO₂ with anatase crystal structure by heat treatment. The absorption ability of visible light was remarkably improved by nitrogen doping. The hollow N-doped TiO₂ particles showed higher photocatalytic activity estimated by the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) compared to undoped TiO₂ particles.