N2 plasma treatment TiO2 nanosheets for enhanced visible light-driven photocatalysis

• TiO 2 was synthesized by a solvothermal method and treated with N-plasma at atmospheric pressure. • Ti 3+ ions of N-TiO 2 form the Ti 3+ self-doped system, which causing the light absorption range enhanced. • The catalytic H 2 evolution of N-TiO 2 is 14.85 times higher than that of the pristine TiO 2 NFs. The N-TiO 2 was prepared by N-plasma treatment at room temperature and ambient, which caused the results of higher generation of oxygen vacancy. The reaction also resulted in reducing more Ti 3+ , and forming the Ti 3+ self-doped system, changing the electronic structure of Ti 3+ , enhancing its light absorption range, and then enhancing its photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity was ~14.85 times higher than that of the pristine TiO 2. An enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of Titanium dioxide nanosheets (TiO 2 NFs) by N 2 plasma (N-plasma) treatment has been suggested. TiO 2 NFs was synthesized by a solvothermal method and treated with N-plasma at atmospheric pressure. Then the as-prepared TiO 2 and N-plasma treated TiO 2 (N-TiO 2 ) NFs photocatalyst were extensively characterized. Interestingly, more oxygen vacancy and Ti 3+ ions were found in the N-TiO 2 NFs. Meanwhile, Ti 3+ ions form the Ti 3+ self-doped system, which causing the light absorption range enhanced. The catalytic H 2 evolution of N-TiO 2 NFs at a rate of 8.1 mmol g −1 h −1 , which is 14.85 times higher than that of the pristine TiO 2 NFs. These results might suggest new views for the photoactivity of TiO 2 NFs and provide a kind of feasibility for other metal oxides in the photocatalytic field.