Self-organized vanadium and nitrogen co-doped titania nanotube arrays with enhanced photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into CH4

TL;DR

This study develops V-N co-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays via anodizing and hydrothermal treatment, demonstrating significantly improved photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to methane under UV light, with detailed mechanism analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel V-N co-doping method for TiO2 nanotubes, enhancing their photocatalytic efficiency for CO2 reduction, and provides insights into the underlying mechanism.

Findings

Enhanced photocatalytic activity for CO2 to CH4 conversion

V-N co-doping improves TiO2 nanotube properties

Detailed mechanism of activity enhancement discussed

Abstract

Self-organized V-N co-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) with various doping amount were synthesized by anodizing in association with hydrothermal treatment. Impacts of V-N co-doping on the morphologies, phase structures, and photoelectrochemical properties of the TNAs films were thoroughly investigated. The co-doped TiO2 photocatalysts show remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity for the CO2 photoreduction to methane under ultraviolet illumination. The mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic activity is discussed in detail.