Direct Growth of TiO₂ Nanosheet Arrays on Carbon Fibers for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange

Abstract

Anatase TiO2 sheets with exposed high-energy (001) facets are grown on carbon fibers (CFs) by a facile hydrothermal synthetic route. The percentage of reactive facets in the TiO2 nanosheets (NSs) is calculated to vary between about 40% and 92%, depending on the synthesis conditions. In comparison with TiO2 NSs grown on a planar substrate, the TiO2 NS/CF hybrid structure exhibits a 3.38-fold improvement in photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under UV-light irradiation.