Synergetic Effect of Ti3+ and Oxygen Doping on Enhancing Photoelectrochemical and Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2/g-C3N4 Heterojunctions

To improve the utilization of visible light and reduce photogenerated electron/hole recombination, Ti3+ self-doped TiO2/oxygen-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Ti3+-TiO2/O-g-C3N4) heterojunctions were prepared via hydrothermal treatment of a mixture of g-C3N4 and titanium oxohydride sol obtained from the reaction of TiH2 with H2O2. In this way, exfoliated O-g-C(3)N4 and Ti3+-TiO2 nanoparticles were obtained. Simultaneously, strong bonding was formed between Ti3+-TiO2 nanoparticles and exfoliated O-g-C3N4 during the hydrothermal process. Charge transfer and recombination processes were characterized by transient photocurrent responses, electrochemical impedance test, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performances were investigated through rhodamine B degradation test under an irradiation source based on 30 W cold visible-light-emitting diode. The highest visible-light photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activities were observed from the heterojunction with 1:2 mass ratio of Ti3+-TiO2 to O-g-C3N4. The photodegradation reaction rate constant based on this heterojuction is 0.0356 min-1, which is 3.87 and 4.56 times higher than those of pristine Ti3+-TiO2 and pure g-C3N4, respectively. The remarkably high photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performances of the heterojunctions are mainly attributed to the synergetic effect of efficient photogenerated electron-hole separation, decreased electron transfer resistance from interfacial chemical hydroxy residue bonds, and oxidizing groups originating from Ti3+-TiO2 and O-g-C3N4.