Fabrication and characterization of mesoporous carbon nanosheets-1D TiO2 nanostructures

Carbon nanosheet (CNS)–titanate nanotube (TNT) composites were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of Ti species-intercalated graphite oxide, and their bulk and surface structures, formation mechanism and porosities were investigated by XRD, DRIFT, TG-DTA, FE-SEM and N2 adsorption. It was found that CNS functions as a template for two-dimensional deposition of the TNTs, forming a TNT-loaded CNS composing structure with tubular axes parallel to the sheet surface, which then gathers together to form secondary mesoporous aggregates. The titanate nanotubes in the composites were gradually transformed into single-crystal anatase nanorods by further calcination under inert atmosphere with the composing structure unchanged. Behaviors in adsorption and photocatalytic activity toward methyl orange indicated the establishment of adsorption-concentration-promoted photocatalysis in these composites with unique structures due to the synergy effect of carbon nanosheets and rod-like TiO2 nanoparticles, achieving up to 6 times higher photoactivity in comparison with a commercial high-activity photocatalyst.