Enhancing photocatalytic activity by using TiO2–MgO core-shell-structured nanoparticles

Abstract

Hygroscopic Mg(OH)2 gel was topotactically decomposed on TiO2 particle surfaces, resulting in highly nanoporous MgO-coated TiO2 particles. The highly hygroscopic and nanoporous MgO shell absorbed more water molecules and hydroxyl groups from the environment to yield an improved photocatalytic property of the core-shell particles as compared to the uncoated TiO2 counterpart.