In the present work, we PS-341 purchase made 3-MA price efforts to improve photocatalytic carbon dioxide conversion rates by the following strategies: (1) employ high surface area titania nanotube arrays, with vectorial charge transfer, and

long-term stability to photo and chemical corrosion; and (2) modify the titania to enhance the separation of electron-hole pairs by incorporating nitrogen and vanadium. This article reports the synthesis, morphologies, phase structures, and photoelectrochemical of self-organized V, N co-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays as well as the effect of V and N co-doping on photocatalytic reduction performance of CO2 into CH4. Methods Fabrication of V, N co-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays V, N co-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) were fabricated by a combination of electrochemical anodization and hydrothermal reaction. Firstly, highly ordered TNAs were fabricated on a Ti substrate in a mixed electrolyte solution of ethylene glycol containing NH4F and deionized water by a two-step electrochemical anodic oxidation process according to our previous reports [11]. Interstitial nitrogen

species were formed in the TNAs due to the electrolyte containing NH4F [12]. Then, the amorphous TNAs were annealed at 500°C Go6983 cost for 3 h with a heating rate of 10°C/min in air ambience to obtain crystalline phase. We denoted these single N-doped TNAs samples as N-TiO2. V, N co-doped TNAs were prepared by a hydrothermal process. As-prepared N-TiO2 samples were immersed in Teflon-lined autoclaves (120 mL, Parr Instrument, Moline, IL, USA) containing approximately 60 mL of NH4VO3 aqueous solution (with different concentration 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt.%) as the source of both V and N. All samples were hydrothermally treated at 180°C for 5 h and then naturally cooled down to room temperature. Finally, all samples were rinsed with deionized water

and dried under high purityN2 stream. The corresponding samples (0.5%, 1%, 3%, and 5%) were labeled as VN0.5, VN1, VN3, and VN5. For control experiment, sample denoted as VN0 was prepared by the previously mentioned hydrothermal process in 60 mL pure water without NH4VO3 addition. Characterization Surface morphologies of all samples were observed click here with field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM, JEOL JSM-7001 F, Akishima-shi, Japan) at an accelerating voltage of 15 kV. Phase structures of the photocatalysts were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis on an X’Pert Philips (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) diffractometer (Cu Kα radiation, 2θ range, 10° to 90°; step size, 0.08°). Chemical state and surface composition of the samples were obtained with an Axis Ultra X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS, Kratos, Manchester, UK; a monochromatic Al source operating at 210 W with a pass energy of 20 eV and a step of 0.1 eV was used). All binding energies (BE) were referenced to the C 1 s peak at 284.8 eV of the surface adventitious carbon.