Development of high efficient visible light-driven N, S-codoped TiO₂ nanowires photocatalysts

Highlights: • A facile hydrothermal route to synthesize N, S-codoped TiO₂ nanowires. • The codoped TiO₂ nanowires have TiO₂ (B) and anatase phase. • The significant shift of the optical absorption edge toward the visible region. • The photocatalyst showed high photocatalytic activity for atrazine. - Abstract: One-dimensional (1D) nanowire material (especially nonmetal doped 1D nanowires) synthesized by a facile way is of great significance and greatly desired as it has higher charge carrier mobility and lower carrier recombination rate. N, S-codoped TiO₂ nanowires were synthesized using titanium sulfate as a precursor and isopropanol as a protective capping agent by a hydrothermal route. The obtained doped nanowires were characterized by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, SAED, XPS, BET and UV–vis absorption spectrum. The incorporation of N and S into TiO₂ NWs can lead to the expansion of its lattice and remarkably lower its electron-transfer resistance. Photocatalytic activity measurement showed that the N, S-codoped TiO₂ nanowires with high quantum efficiency revealed the best photocatalytic performance for atrazine degradation under visible light irradiation compared to N, S-codoped TiO₂ nanoparticles and S-doped TiO₂ nanowires, which was attributed to (i) the synergistic effect of N and S doping in narrowing the band gap, separating electron–hole pairs and increasing the photoinduced electrons, and (ii) extending the anatase-to-rutile transformation temperature above 600 °C