A novel route to synthesize C/Pt/TiO2 phase tunable anatase Rutile TiO2 for efficient sunlight-driven photocatalytic applications

Herein, we report a novel air-assisted carbon sphere combustion process to produce phase-tunable anatase-rutile (AIR) C/Pt-TiO2 photocatalysts for hydrogen generation and organic pollutant degradation under solar light irradiation. In the formed carbon/amorphous TiO2 core/shell structure, the carbon-core was acted as a fuel to prepare the mixed phase A/R TiO2 nanostructures. The A/R ratio of the TiO2 nanoparticles was tuned by varying the purged air flow during the combustion process. The obtained materials exhibited several unique properties not achievable using conventional methods, including anatase/rutile homojunction, co-existence of C and Pt/PtO and very high surface area, significantly improved charge separation and transfer characteristics towards excellent photocatalytic properties. Eventually, the photocatalytic activities of the obtained materials were found to be more than 23 and 17 folds higher than commercial TiO2-P25 for hydrogen generation and organic pollutant degradation, respectively.