The composite of nitrogen-doped anatase titania plates with exposed {001} facets/graphene nanosheets for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity.

Composite photocatalysts composed of nitrogen-doped anatase TiO2 plates with exposed {001} facets (NTS) and graphene nanosheets (G) were firstly synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal process. The morphologies, structural properties, and photocatalytic activities of the resultant NTS/G composites were investigated in detail. Graphene nanosheets were demonstrated play three important roles in the NTS/G composites, as transporter of photo-excited electrons, extender of light absorption range and enhancer of adsorptive capacity, respectively. Due to the effective charge anti-recombination, the efficient utilization of the visible light and the high adsorptive capacity to target pollutants, the composites exhibited significant improvement in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. Based on the results, the mechanism of enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity on NTS/G composites was proposed.