A simple and efficient ultrasonic-assisted electrochemical approach for scalable production of nitrogen-doped TiO₂nanocrystals

In this study, we report a facile and effective approach for large-scale production of nitrogen-doped TiO₂nanocrystals (UNTs) by a combination of ultrasonic irradiation and electrochemistry at room temperature using NH₄NO₃electrolyte as the nitrogen source. The as-prepared UNTs were then characterized by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results indicated that the nitrogen content of UNTs reached 9.3% and bandgap energy of 2.62 eV, thus gave the high photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. The mechanism for the formation of UNTs by ultrasonic-assisted electrochemical approach was also proposed.