Efficient Visible-Light Photocatalysis of TiO(2-δ) Nanobelts Utilizing Self-Induced Defects and Carbon Doping

Efficient visible-light photocatalysis was realized by exploring self-induced defect states, including the abundant surface states of TiO(2-δ) nanobelts synthesized through metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The TiO(2-δ) nanobelts exhibited two strong defect-induced absorption peaks at 2.91 and 1.92 eV, overlapping with the conduction band states so that photoexcited carriers can contribute effectively for the photocatalysis reaction. To further enhance visible-light photocatalytic activity, carbon atoms, the by-product of the MOCVD reaction, were self-doped at the judiciously determined growth conditions. The resulting visible-light photocatalysis suggests that the large surface area and consequent high concentration of the surface states of the TiO(2-δ) nanobelts can be effectively utilized in a wide range of photocatalysis applications.