Preparation of 2D ultrathin titanium dioxide nanosheets with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

Abstract

The two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanosheets with large specific surface area and fast electron transfer are successfully fabricated by using P123 as a soft template during a conventional hydrothermal process. Ultrathin structure improves the lifetime of the photogenerated electron and hole. The bandgap of the 2D materials is reduced with the calcination treatment. The TiO2 nanosheets calcined at 300 degrees C exhibit higher photocatalytic activity in degradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B under visible light irradiation, and excellent photoelectrochemical performance allow them a wide use in energy and environmental applications.