Modified blue TiO 2 nanostructures for efficient photo-oxidative removal of harmful NO x gases

Blue TiO2 nanostructures were produced via Lithium/ethylenediamine (Li/EDA) reduction method and applied for photo-oxidative removal of harmful NOx gases under simulated solar light irradiation. Blue TiO2 possesses some unique physicochemical properties such as enhanced visible-light absorption, superficial defects or oxygen vacancies, and the evolution of Ti3+ species. Moreover, the photoluminescence spectra (PL) revealed the efficient separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs in the modified blue TiO2 nanostructures, enhancing their photocatalytic activities. The results indicated that the blue TiO2 nanostructures exhibited the highest performance towards photo-oxidation of NOx gases, with an efficiency of 72.6% under simulated solar light irradiation.