Facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of B/N-codoped TiO2 hollow spheres with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity and photoelectrochemical property

B/N-codoped TiO2 hollow spheres (B/N-THs) were synthesized by facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The B/N-THs have large surface areas (up to 172.1 m(2) g(-1)). The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared THs were evaluated by degradation of Reactive Brilliant Red dye X-3B solution under visible light irradiation. The results showed that B/N-THs exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity due to their high surface area and synergetic effect of B/N-codoped. A photocurrent-time spectrum was examined by anodic photocurrent response to characterize the electron-transferring efficiency in the process of photocatalysis reaction. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.