Nitrogen doped TiO2 nanotube arrays with high photoelectrochemical activity for photocatalytic applications

Nitrogen doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (N-TNAs) were prepared by immersing TNAs in 1 M NH3·H2O solution and then annealing in different temperatures. The morphology, structure and composition of the N-TNAs were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis spectroscopy, respectively. Effects of annealing temperatures on structure, photocatalytic properties, and the crystal structure transformation process of the N-TNAs were discussed. Photocatalytic properties of the N-TNAs were evaluated in term of the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under UV light and visible light, and the photocurrent of N-TNAs were tested by electrochemical workstation. The XPS results showed that the N-TNAs were achieved by interstitial doping and substitutional doping, and the FESEM results showed the morphology was not changed after doping process. Compared with the pure TNAs, the N-TNAs annealed at 500 ̊C for 2 h with a mixed phase of anatase and rutile exhibited higher photocatalytic degradation activity to MO. Furthermore, the photocatalytic mechanism of organic pollutants degradation (MO) was discussed based on our experiments.