Preparation and photocatalytic performance of N-AZO/TiO2 nanocomposites

A convenient and efficient method is developed to massively synthesize N-aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO)/TiO2 nanocomposites (NCs) with good visible light photo-response and photocatalytic activity. The shortened band gap of the interstitial N-doped NCs led to a much easier electron excitation and effectively inhibited the recombination of the photo-excited electrons and holes, thus dramatically improving the photocatalytic activity during the photocatalytic process. The impact of N-doping content on N-AZO/TiO2 NCs's photocatalytic activity toward gatifloxacin (GAT) degradation was studied. The results showed that the most optimal molar ratio of nitrogen atom to zinc atom was 1.2:1. The degradation rate of GAT reached 85% when given an illumination time of 30 min, which was 2.3 times higher than pure AZO materials and increased by 22% compared to the non-doping pure AZO/TiO2.