Biomineralized N-doped CNT/TiO core/shell nanowires for visible light photocatalysis

We report an efficient and environmentally benign biomimetic mineralization of TiO at the graphitic carbon surface, which successfully created an ideal TiO /carbon hybrid structure without any harsh surface treatment or interfacial adhesive layer. The N-doped sites at carbon nanotubes (CNTs) successfully nucleated the high-yield biomimetic deposition of a uniformly thick TiO nanoshell in neutral pH aqueous media at ambient pressure and temperature and generated N-doped CNT (NCNT)/TiO core/shell nanowires. Unlike previously known organic biomineralization templates, such as proteins or peptides, the electroconductive and high-temperature-stable NCNT backbone enabled high-temperature thermal treatment and corresponding crystal structure transformation of TiO nanoshells into the anatase or rutile phase for optimized material properties. The direct contact of the NCNT surface and TiO nanoshell without any adhesive interlayer introduced a new carbon energy level in the TiO band gap and thereby effectively lowered the band gap energy. Consequently, the created core/shell nanowires showed a greatly enhanced visible light photocatalysis. Other interesting synergistic properties such as stimuli-responsive wettabilites were also demonstrated. © 2011 American Chemical Society.