A novel TiO2 − xNx/BN composite photocatalyst: Synthesis, characterization and enhanced photocatalytic activity for Rhodamine B degradation under visible light

Abstract A novel TiO 2 −  x N x /BN composite photocatalyst was prepared via a facile method using melamine–boron acid adducts (M·2B) and tetrabutyl titanate as reactants. The morphological results confirmed that nitrogen-doped TiO 2 nanoparticles were uniformly coated on the surface of porous BN fibers. A red shift of absorption edge from 400 nm (pure TiO 2 ) to 520 nm (TiO 2 −  x N x /BN composites) was observed in their UV–Vis light absorption spectra. The TiO 2 −  x N x /BN photocatalysts exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency reached 97.8% under visible light irradiation for 40 min. The mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity was finally proposed.