Synergistic effect on the visible light activity of Ti(3+) doped TiO(2) nanorods/boron doped graphene composite

TiO(2)/graphene (TiO(2-x)/GR) composites, which are Ti(3+) self-doped TiO(2) nanorods decorated on boron doped graphene sheets, were synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermal method using low-cost NaBH(4) as both a reducing agent and a boron dopant on graphene. The resulting TiO(2) nanorods were about 200 nm in length with exposed (100) and (010) facets. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Raman, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD results suggest that the prepared samples have an anatase crystalline structure. All of the composites tested exhibited improved photocatalytic activities as measured by the degradation of methylene blue and phenol under visible light irradiation. This improvement was attributed to the synergistic effect of Ti(3+) self-doping on TiO(2) nanorods and boron doping on graphene.