In Situ Ti3+/N-Codoped Three-Dimensional (3D) Urchinlike Black TiO2 Architectures as Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysts

In situ Ti3+/N-codoped 3D urchinlike black TiO2 (b-N-TiO2) is synthesized via hydrothermal treatment with an in situ solid-state chemical reduction method, followed by annealing at 350 °C in argon. The results indicate that N and Ti3+ was codoped into the lattice of anatase TiO2. The prepared b-N-TiO2, with a narrow bandgap of ∼2.43 eV, possesses a three-dimensional (3D) urchinlike nanostructure, which is composed of fiberlike architecture with a length of 200–400 nm and a width of 25 nm. The visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation rate of Methyl Orange and hydrogen evolution rate for b-N-TiO2 are 95.2% and 178 μmol h–1 g–1, respectively, which are ∼3 and ∼8 times higher than those of pristine TiO2. The excellent photocatalytic activity is mainly attributed to synergistic effect of the N and Ti3+ codoping narrowing the bandgap, and unique 3D urchinlike architecture favors the separation and transport of photogenerated charge carriers and offers more surface-active sites.