Constructing anatase TiO2/Amorphous Nb2O5 heterostructures to enhance photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen and nitrogen oxide

TiO2 nanostructures have been one of the most explored metal oxides photocatalysts to apply for environmental remediation. However, its wide band gap results in the underutilization of sunlight for degradation of pollutants. In order to overcome this handicap, the synthesis of TiO2-based composite has brought extraordinary materials. In this study, we design and prepare TiO2/Nb2O5 heterostructures with different molar ratios by using peroxotitanium and peroxoniobium complex as precursors in aqueous solution. The TiO2 exists in the form of anatase while Nb2O5 is amorphous in the composite, leading to a special crystalline TiO2/amorphous Nb2O5 heterostructures. In particular, Nb element is also doped and Ti3+ ions are formed in the TiO2 lattice, leading to a reduced band gap. The unique TiO2/0.25Nb2O5 (Ti:Nb = 2:1) heterostructures can effectively suppress the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, and facilitate the charge transfer, resulting in the optimum photocatalytic performance. The nitrogen oxide removal efficiency by TiO2/0.25Nb2O5 is 77.23% in visible light, which is 3.8-folds and 7.0-folds higher than pure TiO2 and Nb2O5. Photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen by TiO2/0.25Nb2O5 is 90.6% in visible light, which is approximately 2.5-folds higher than pure TiO2 and Nb2O5.