Enhanced nitrogen doping in TiO2 nanoparticles

TiO2 (-) N-x(x) nanoparticles were prepared by employing the direct amination of 6-10-nm-sized titania particles. Doping on the nanometer scale led to an enhanced nitrogen concentration of up to 8%, compared to less than or equal to2% in thin films and micrometer-scale TiO2 powders. The synthesized TiO2 - N-x(x), nanocrystals are catalytically active and absorb well into the visible region up to 600 nm, thus exemplifying the use of a nanostructure-based synthesis as a means of producing novel photocatalytic materials.