Synthesis and photocatalytic property of N-doped TiO2 nanorods and nanotubes with high nitrogen content

Nano N-doped TiO2 nanotubes were fabricated by hydrothermally treating N-doped TiO2 nanorods in a 8 M NaOH solution at 110 °C for 20 h. The N-doped TiO2 nanorods were synthesized by a solvothermal process with precursor solution containing titanium sulfate, urea, and dichloroethane. The N-doped TiO2 nanorods and nanotubes were characterized with X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–vis spectrophotometry. The nitrogen contents of the N-doped TiO2 nanorods and nanotubes were reached to high values of 36.9 at.% and 25.7 at.%, respectively. The nitrogen doping narrowed the band gap of the N-doped TiO2 nanorods and nanotubes and introduced indirect band gap to the powders, which respectively extended the absorption edge to visible light and infrared region. The nanotubes showed larger specific surface area and greater degradation efficiency to methyl orange than the nanorods.