Fabrication of nitrogen-doped TiO2 monolith with well-defined macroporous and bicrystalline framework and its photocatalytic performance under visible light

In this study, hierarchically porous bicrystalline nitrogen-doped titania (N-doped TiO2) monolithic material was fabricated by a simple two-step approach: (i) preparation of TiO2 porous monolith by a sol–gel process of titanium alkoxide in a mild condition utilizing a chelating agent and mineral salt and (ii) annealing of TiO2 porous monolith obtained under a modest flow of ammonia gas at 700 °C for 2 h. The phase composition, crystal structure, morphology, pore structure, and porous properties of the final product were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury porosimetry, and nitrogen physisorption measurement, respectively. The resultant N-doped TiO2 porous monolith possesses a bicrystalline (anatase and rutile) framework with a well-defined macroporosity. The results from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirm the formation of OTiN bonds in the N-doped TiO2 porous monolith. The photocatalytic activity of N-doped TiO2 porous monolith was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B over the samples under visible light. Nearly 50% of Rhodamine B in aqueous solution was efficiently degraded by N-doped TiO2 porous monolith with the mixed-phase of anatase and rutile under visible light within 120 min.