Construction of Spindle-Shaped Ti(3+) Self-Doped TiO(2) Photocatalysts Using Triethanolamine-Aqueous as the Medium and Its Photoelectrochemical Properties

To enhance the utilization efficiency of visible light and reduce the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, spindle-shaped TiO(2) photocatalysts with different Ti(3+) concentrations were fabricated by a simple solvothermal strategy using low-cost, environmentally friendly TiH(2) and H(2)O(2) as raw materials and triethanolamine-aqueous as the medium. The photocatalytic activities of the obtained photocatalysts were investigated in the presence of visible light. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra were applied to characterize the structure, morphologies, and chemical compositions of as-fabricated Ti(3+) self-doped TiO(2). The concentration of triethanolamine in the mixed solvent plays a significant role on the crystallinity, morphologies, and photocatalytic activities. The electron–hole separation efficiency was found to increase with the increase in the aspect ratio of as-fabricated Ti(3+) self-doped TiO(2), which was proved by transient photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.