Fabrication of Ce/N co-doped TiO2/diatomite granule catalyst and its improved visible-light-driven photoactivity

Unveiling combined ecotoxicity: Interactions and impacts of engineered nanoparticles and PPCPs

Emerging contaminants such as engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are of great concern because of their wide distribution and incomplete removal in conventional wastewater and soil treatment processes. The production and usage of ENPs and PPCPs inevitably result in their coexistence in different environmental media, thus posing various risks to organisms in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, the existing literature on the physicochemical interactions between ENPs and PPCPs and their effects on organisms is rather limited. Therefore, this paper summarized the ecotoxicity of combined ENPs and PPCPs by discussing: (1) the interactions between ENPs and PPCPs, including processes such as aggregation, adsorption, transformation, and desorption, considering the influence of environmental factors like pH, ionic strength, dissolved organic matter, and temperature; (2) the effects of these interactions on bioaccumulation, bioavailability and biotoxicity in organisms at different trophic levels; (3) the impacted of ENPs and PPCPs on cellular-level biological process. This review elucidated the potential ecological hazards associated with the interaction of ENPs and PPCPs, and serves as a foundation for future investigations into the ecotoxicity and mode of action of ENPs, PPCPs, and their co-occurring metabolites.

Achieving High Activity and Long-Term Stability towards Oxygen Evolution in Acid by Phase Coupling between CeO2-Ir

The development of efficient and stable catalysts with high mass activity is crucial for acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, CeO2-Ir heterojunctions supported on carbon nanotubes (CeO2-Ir/CNTs) are synthesized using a solvothermal method based on the heterostructure strategy. CeO2-Ir/CNTs demonstrate remarkable effectiveness as catalysts for acidic OER, achieving 10.0 mA cm-2 at a low overpotential of only 262.9 mV and maintaining stability over 60.0 h. Notably, despite using an Ir dosage 15.3 times lower than that of c-IrO2, CeO2-Ir/CNTs exhibit a very high mass activity (2542.3 A gIr-1@1.53 V), which is 58.8 times higher than that of c-IrO2. When applied to acidic water electrolyzes, CeO2-Ir/CNTs display a prosperous potential for application as anodic catalysts. X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) analysis reveals that the chemical environment of Ir nanoparticles (NP) can be effectively modulated through coupling with CeO2. This modulation is believed to be the key factor contributing to the excellent OER catalytic activity and stability observed in CeO2-Ir/CNTs.

Surface-Modified TiO2@SiO2 Nanocomposites for Enhanced Dispersibility and Optical Performance to Apply in the Printing Process as a Pigment

The grafted modification TiO₂@SiO₂ composite was fabricated by a liquid-phase deposition method with Na₂SiO₃ and a grafting reaction with a silane coupling agent. First, the TiO₂@SiO₂ composite was prepared, and the effect of deposition rate and silica content on the morphology, particle size, dispersibility, and pigmentary property of TiO₂@SiO₂ composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ζ-potential. The islandlike TiO₂@SiO₂ composite had a good particle size and printing performance compared with the dense TiO₂@SiO₂ composite. The presence of Si was confirmed by EDX elemental analysis and XPS, and a peak at 980 cm^-1 belonging to Si-O was observed in the FTIR spectrum, confirming the presence of SiO₂ anchored at TiO₂ surfaces via Si-O-Ti bonds. Then, the islandlike TiO₂@SiO₂ composite was modified by grafting with a silane coupling agent. The effect of the silane coupling agent on the hydrophobicity and dispersibility was investigated. The peaks at 2919 and 2846 cm^-1 belong to CH₂ in the FTIR spectrum, and Si-C in the XPS confirmed the grafting of silane coupling agent to the TiO₂@SiO₂ composite. The grafted modification of the islandlike TiO₂@SiO₂ composite using 3-triethoxysilylpropylamine endowed it with weather durability, dispersibility, and good printing performance.

Photocatalytic Bacterial Inactivation of Acinetobacter baumannli on Cu/TiO2/Diatomite

Cu4Ti2O/TiO2/diatomite with double interface Cu4Ti2O/TiO2 and rutile/anatase heterojunction were fabricated, which demonstrated good antibacterial activity (100%) against Acinetobacter baumannii. Cu/TiO2/diatomite prepared under optimum preparation conditions (added diatomite, 0.005 g; Cu, 0.005 g; reaction temperature, 180 °C; reaction time, 8 h) exhibited high antibacterial activity (100%) against A. baumannii. For the Cu/TiO2/diatomite powders, their structural, compositional, optical and morphological traits were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, BET, FTIR, Mapping, and DRS. It was shown that Cu/TiO2/diatomite under optimum conditions consisted of the double interface Cu4Ti2O/TiO2 and rutile/anatase heterojunction with the narrowest band gap and largest BET surface area, pore size, and pore volume. Then, it could exhibit the best photocatalytic activity.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Anatase/Rutile Heterojunctions by Lanthanum and Tin Co-Doping

Anatase/rutile heterojunctions were prepared using the sol-gel method and modified by La/Sn single doping and co-doping. Sn doping promoted the transformation from anatase to rutile, while La doping inhibited the phase transformation. La and Sn co-doping showed an inhibitory effect. The co-doping of La and Sn did not increase visible-light absorption, but exhibited a synergistic effect on inhibiting the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, which improved the photocatalytic activity on the basis of single-element modification. The first-order reaction rate constant of La/Sn co-doped sample was 0.027 min-1, which is 1.8 times higher than that of pure TiO2 (0.015 min-1). Meanwhile, the mechanism of photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) by La/Sn co-doped anatase/rutile heterojunctions was discussed through electrochemical measurements and free-radical trapping experiments.

Ag Decoration and SnO2 Coupling Modified Anatase/Rutile Mixed Crystal TiO2 Composite Photocatalyst for Enhancement of Photocatalytic Degradation towards Tetracycline Hydrochloride

The anatase/rutile mixed crystal TiO2 was prepared and modified with Ag decoration and SnO2 coupling to construct a Ag@SnO2/anatase/rutile composite photocatalytic material. The crystal structure, morphology, element valence, optical properties and surface area were characterized, and the effects of Ag decoration and SnO2 coupling on the structure and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 were studied. Ag decoration and SnO2 coupling are beneficial to reduce the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. When the two modification are combined, a synergistic effect is produced in suppressing the photogenerated charge recombination, making Ag@SnO2/TiO2 exhibits the highest quantum utilization. After 30 min of illumination, the degradation degree of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) by pure TiO2 increased from 63.3% to 83.1% with Ag@SnO2/TiO2.

Synthesis of nitrogen and terbium co-doped TiO2 nanocrystals with enhanced photocatalytic activity for AO7 degradation under visible-light radiation

TiO2 nanocrystals co-doped with nitrogen and terbium exhibited extended light absorption, improved charge separation efficiency, and enhanced AO7 adsorption efficiency, giving rise to enhanced AO7 degradation activity which was 2× better than undoped TiO2 nanocrystals.

Synthesis and Characterization of Sn/Ni Single Doped and Co–Doped Anatase/Rutile Mixed–Crystal Nanomaterials and Their Photocatalytic Performance under UV–Visible Light

Pure and Sn/Ni co–doped TiO2 nanomaterials with anatase/rutile mixed crystal were prepared and characterized. The results show that pure TiO2 is a mixed crystal structure composed of a large amount of anatase and a small amount of rutile. Sn doping promotes the phase transformation from anatase to rutile, while Ni doping inhibits the transformation. Both single doping and co–doping are beneficial to the inhibition of photoinduced charge recombination. Sn doping shows the best inhibitory effect on photogenerated charge recombination, and increases the utilization of visible light, displaying the highest photocatalytic activity. The decolorization degree of methylene blue (MB) by Sn–TiO2 is 79.5% after 150 min. The reaction rate constant of Sn–TiO2 is 0.01022 min−1, which is 5.6 times higher than pure TiO2 (0.00181 min–1).

Ce2O3/BiVO4 Embedded in rGO as Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Methyl Orange under Visible Light Irradiation

A p–n heterojunction semiconductor structure composed of Ce3O4 and BiVO4 has been synthesized and then incorporated into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by the hydrothermal method. The ternary composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron diffraction spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–vis spectroscopy. The efficiency of the composites as photocatalysts was determined by studying the oxidative degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The effect of parameters such as pH, catalyst loading, and concentration of the dye solution was examined in order to determine their influence on the photocatalytic activity of the composites. The composite incorporated into reduced graphene oxide presented the highest percentage (above 90%) in 2 h time, attributed to the effect of the increased surface area. The process of the enhanced photocatalytic activity has been discussed based on the energy band positions of the nanoparticles within the composite.

Recent Advances in 3D Printing of Structured Materials for Adsorption and Catalysis Applications

Porous solids in the form of adsorbents and catalysts play a crucial role in various industrially important chemical, energy, and environmental processes. Formulating them into structured configurations is a key step toward their scale up and successful implementation at the industrial level. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has emerged as an invaluable platform for shape engineering porous solids and fabricating scalable configurations for use in a wide variety of separation and reaction applications. However, formulating porous materials into self-standing configurations can dramatically affect their performance and consequently the efficiency of the process wherein they operate. Toward this end, various research groups around the world have investigated the formulation of porous adsorbents and catalysts into structured scaffolds with complex geometries that not only exhibit comparable or improved performance to that of their powder parents but also address the pressure drop and attrition issues of traditional configurations. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the recent advances and current challenges in the field of adsorption and catalysis to better guide the future directions in shape engineering solid materials with a better control on composition, structure, and properties of 3D-printed adsorbents and catalysts.

Hydrolytic Modification of SiO2 Microspheres with Na2SiO3 and the Performance of Supported Nano-TiO2 Composite Photocatalyst

Modified microspheres (SiO₂-M) were obtained by the hydrolytic modification of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) microspheres with Na₂SiO₃, and then, SiO₂-M was used as a carrier to prepare a composite photocatalyst (SiO₂-M/TiO₂) using the sol-gel method; i.e., nano-TiO₂ was loaded on the surface of SiO₂-M. The structure, morphology, and photocatalytic properties of SiO₂-M/TiO₂ were investigated. Besides, the mechanism of the effect of SiO₂-M was also explored. The results show that the hydrolytic modification of Na₂SiO₃ coated the surface of SiO₂ microspheres with an amorphous SiO₂ shell layer and increased the quantity of hydroxyl groups. The photocatalytic performance of the composite photocatalyst was slightly better than that of pure nano-TiO₂ and significantly better than that of the composite photocatalyst supported by unmodified SiO₂. Thus, increasing the loading capacity of nano-TiO₂, improving the dispersion of TiO_2, and increasing the active surface sites are essential factors for improving the functional efficiency of nano-TiO₂. This work provides a new concept for the design of composite photocatalysts by optimizing the performance of the carrier.

Adsorption-photocatalytic degradation and kinetic of sodium isobutyl xanthate using the nitrogen and cerium co-doping TiO2-coated activated carbon

At present, the excessive use of sodium isobutyl xanthate (SIBX) in mineral processing has caused serious environmental problems, drawing ever-growing concern in China. A nitrogen and cerium co-doped TiO₂-coated activated carbon (Ce/N-TiO₂@AC) heterojunction were prepared through the sol-gel method to address these problems. The photocatalyst was characterized using XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, PL, UV-Vis, XPS and a series of photoelectrochemical techniques. The results show that Ce/N-TiO₂@AC photocatalyst possess a stable anatase phase, narrow band gap energy (2.24-2.61 eV) and high charge transport process. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was evaluated based on photodegradation kinetic studies of SIBX in aqueous solution, and it is found that it followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model very well. The Ce/N-TiO₂@AC photocatalyst with 2% Ce appears to be the highest removal rate with 96.3% of SIBX and an apparent rate constant of 78.4 × 10^-3 min^-1. The reusability experiment for its potential applications was studied, and the removal rate of SIBX reached 95.8% after the fifth cycle. Besides, the proposed mechanism and degradation routes of SIBX were systematically studied, and certificate the concentration of SO^2-₄ ions in the final water sample was 95.9 mg/L, which was basically consistent with the theoretical value.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes by ultrasonic-assisted electrospray TiO2/graphene oxide on polyacrylonitrile/β-cyclodextrin nanofibrous membranes

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) composite nanofibrous membranes immobilized with nano-titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and graphene oxide (GO) were prepared by electrospinning and ultrasonic-assisted electrospinning. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that TiO₂ and GO were more evenly dispersed on the surface and inside of the nanofibers after 45 min of ultrasonic treatment. Adding TiO₂ and GO reduced the fiber diameter; the minimum fiber diameter was 84.66 ± 40.58 nm when the mass ratio of TiO₂-to-GO was 8:2 (PAN/β-CD nanofibrous membranes was 191.10 ± 45.66 nm). Using the anionic dye methyl orange (MO) and the cationic dye methylene blue (MB) as pollutant models, the photocatalytic activity of the nanofibrous membrane under natural sunlight was evaluated. It was found that PAN/β-CD/TiO₂/GO composite nanofibrous membrane with an 8:2 mass ratio of TiO₂-to-GO exhibited the best degradation efficiency for the dyes. The degradation efficiency for MB and MO were 93.52 ± 1.83% and 90.92 ± 1.52%, respectively. Meanwhile, the PAN/β-CD/TiO₂/GO composite nanofibrous membrane also displayed good antibacterial properties and the degradation efficiency for MB and MO remained above 80% after 3 cycles. In general, the PAN/β-CD/TiO₂/GO nanofibrous membrane is eco-friendly, reusable, and has great potential for the removal of dyes from industrial wastewaters.

WITHDRAWN: Fabrication of erbium and nitrogen modified TiO2/diatomaceous earth as a sunlight-driven floating photocatalyst for ibuprofen mitigation

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the authors. Zhaohong Zhang is listed as an author on the manuscript but has informed the journal that this occurred without their consent or knowledge of the submission, and the email address provided was fake. Zhaohong Zhang does not support the scientific conclusions of the article. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.

Effects of Ag0-modification and Fe3+-doping on the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of TiO2

Pure TiO2, Ag0-modified TiO2, Fe3+-doped TiO2, and Ag0-modified/Fe3+-doped TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized via sol-gel technology. The crystal structure, element composition and surface morphology of the obtained photocatalysts were characterized via XRD, XPS, SEM and TEM, respectively. The results indicate that Ag-TiO2 samples show higher photocatalytic activity than pure TiO2. Unexpectedly, the photocatalytic activities of Fe-TiO2 and 1% Ag/1% Fe-TiO2 are lower than pure TiO2. To analyze the main factors affecting photocatalytic performance, the samples were further investigated by PL, DRS and BET. The results prove that the additions of Ag and Fe are advantageous for inhibiting the recombination of photoinduced pairs and improving the utilization of light. Fe-TiO2 and 1% Ag/1% Fe-TiO2 exhibit smaller specific surface areas than pure TiO2, which is the primary reason for their reduced photocatalytic performances.

Visible-light-driven elimination of oxytetracycline and Escherichia coli using magnetic La-doped TiO2/copper ferrite/diatomite composite

The development of powdery photocatalyst has long been studied, yet the low recovery in water is still its bottleneck. In this work, magnetic recyclable lanthanum-doped TiO₂/copper ferrite/diatomite (La-TCD) ternary composite was synthesized via sol-gel method. The physicochemical properties of various hybrid catalysts were characterized and studied, and their photocatalytic properties were evaluated via the decomposition of antibiotic oxytetracycline and disinfection of bacteria Escherichia coli under visible light. The formation of heterojunction between La-doped TiO₂ and copper ferrite hindered the recombination of photo-induced charge carriers and improved the photocatalytic activity. The photodecomposition rate of OTC was accelerated by the high adsorption ability of diatomite, due to the adsorption and decomposition synergistic effect between catalysts and substrate diatomite. The optimal La dopant amount as well as optimal catalyst dosage was determined. The composite could simply be recovered from waterbody via an external magnet, and the repetition tests indicated no obvious decrease of photoactivity. This nanocomposite presented good potential to be applied in environmental remediation process, due to its high photocatalytic efficiency under visible light, as well as its good reusability and stability.

Facile prepared ball-like TiO2 at GO composites for oxytetracycline removal under solar and visible lights

With the widespread use of oxytetracycline (OTC), residual OTCs have been detected in natural surface waters, as well as in water and wastewater treatment systems. Semiconductor photocatalysis has been proven to be a green and high-performing method for the removal of organic contaminants. However, most photocatalysts are only effective when irradiated by UV light. This study explores the efficiency of a new semiconductor photocatalysis method for OTC removal under solar and visible light. To expand the spectral range from the UV to the visible region, a facile prepared ball-like TiO₂ at graphene oxide (TiO₂@GO) composite, a TiO₂-associated catalyst, was synthesized. Chemical characterization indicated that the TiO₂@GO has the features of both TiO₂ and GO, with the regular TiO₂ fiber balls cladded by GO nanosheets. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂@GO composites under solar and visible light was evaluated in terms of OTC degradation. Values of 100% and 90% OTC removal efficiencies were achieved with TiO₂@GO at 6 mg/L under solar and visible light irradiation, respectively. The band structure of TiO₂@GO expanded the spectral range to full light wavelengths, facilitating formation of a light-induced electron hole (h⁺), which was identified in this study as the major cause of OTC degradation. The pH and TSS levels (>100 mg/L) were found to have high and low impacts, respectively, on the removal efficiency of OTC, while natural organic matter (NOM) was found to have an insignificant impact. Furthermore, the degradation of OTC with catalysis by TiO₂@GO was verified using two real water samples, and averages of 90% and 75% OTC removal efficiencies were achieved under solar and visible light respectively. The results indicate that the synthesized TiO₂@GO composites can provide an effective way of removing toxic organic compounds, including OTC, from the water system.

Hierarchically structured ternary heterojunctions based on Ce3+/ Ce4+ modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles anchored onto graphene oxide sheets as magnetic visible-light-active photocatalysts for decontamination of oxytetracycline

The main prerequisite of an active visible-light-driven photocatalyst is to effectively utilize the visible light to induce electron-hole (e^-/h⁺) pairs of expanded lifetime. To this end, for the first time, the ternary heterojunctions of CeO₂/Fe₃O₄ /Graphene oxide and Ce³⁺/ Fe₃O₄ /Graphene oxide (CeO₂/Fe₃O₄/GO and Fe_2.8Ce_0.2O₄/GO) were prepared via facile ultrasonic-assisted procedures and employed for destruction of oxytetracycline (OTC) under visible light irradiation. The changes in the relative crystal structure, morphology, atomic and surface functional group composition, magnetic, and optic properties of magnetite were uncovered by various techniques. The substantial degradation and mineralization of OTC via visible light/Fe_2.8Ce_0.2O₄/GO system were thoroughly discussed in terms of narrowed band gap energy, the principal function of Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox pairs and GO platelets, enhanced charge separation and transfer, and enlarged active surface area. Furthermore, the performance of visible light/Fe_2.8Ce_0.2O₄/GO system was evaluated for treating real wastewater and its efficiency was investigated using a number of enhancers and scavengers. Finally, the generated byproducts in the course of photodegradation were determined and the oxidation pathway, photocatalytic kinetics, and plausible mechanism were proposed. The results confirmed that the introduced Ce ions and graphene oxide sheets boost the photo-catalytic efficiency of magnetite for photodegradation of OTC.

Recent Advances and Applications of Semiconductor Photocatalytic Technology

Along with the development of industry and the improvement of people’s living standards, peoples’ demand on resources has greatly increased, causing energy crises and environmental pollution. In recent years, photocatalytic technology has shown great potential as a low-cost, environmentally-friendly, and sustainable technology, and it has become a hot research topic. However, current photocatalytic technology cannot meet industrial requirements. The biggest challenge in the industrialization of photocatalyst technology is the development of an ideal photocatalyst, which should possess four features, including a high photocatalytic efficiency, a large specific surface area, a full utilization of sunlight, and recyclability. In this review, starting from the photocatalytic reaction mechanism and the preparation of the photocatalyst, we review the classification of current photocatalysts and the methods for improving photocatalytic performance; we also further discuss the potential industrial usage of photocatalytic technology. This review also aims to provide basic and comprehensive information on the industrialization of photocatalysis technology.

2D-2D growth of NiFe LDH nanoflakes on montmorillonite for cationic and anionic dye adsorption performance

NiFe layered double hydroxides nanoflakes decorated montmorillonite (MMT@NiFe LDH) was successfully prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal method. The 2D-2D growth MMT@NiFe LDH was utilized as an effective adsorbent for removal of anionic dye of methyl orange (MO) and cationic dye of methylene blue (MB). The mole ratio of Ni²⁺/Fe³⁺ could quite influence the interlayer spacing, surface area per unit charge and the ultrathin hexagonal laminated morphology of NiFe LDH decorated on the surface of MMT. Various characterization techniques were conducted to identify it, such as XRD, FT-IR, TG-DTA, BET, XPS and SEM. Under the optimal conditions, the Langmuir-fitted maximum adsorption capacities for MO and MB are 108.80 mg g^-1 and 99.18 mg g^-1, respectively. Adsorption kinetics for MO and MB are both verified to be fit in with pseudo-second-order model. This work suggests a facile pathway to synthesize desirable bifunctional adsorbent for cationic and anionic dyes, which provides the potential application for the actual wastewater purification.

Synthesis of 3D flower-like structured Gd/TiO2@rGO nanocomposites via a hydrothermal method with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

In this study, novel Gd/TiO₂@rGO (GTR) nanocomposites with high photocatalytic performance were fabricated via a one-pot solvothermal approach. During the preparation step, graphene oxide (GO) was reduced to reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and subsequently, on the surfaces of which anatase TiO₂ doped with Gd metal was grown in situ with a 3D petal-like structure. Gd doping into the classical TiO₂@rGO system efficiently expands the absorption range of light, improves the separation of photogenerated electrons, and increases the photocatalytic reaction sites. The specific surface areas, morphological structures, and valence and conduction bands of the obtained GTR nanocomposites were analyzed and correlated with their enhanced photocatalytic performances for the degradation of an aqueous RhB solution. The experimental results indicated that the best performance was achieved with the 3% GTR composite, which exhibited the highest photoelectrocatalytic activity because of two aspects: the rapid separation of electrons and holes, and improvement in adsorption capacity. As compared with pure TiO₂, the GTR composites demonstrated enhanced photoactivity due to synergetic effects between the effective photo-induced electron transfer from TiO₂ to the surface of the rGO acceptor through interfacial interactions and the variation of structure and electrons under the adoption of Gd.

One-pot green synthesis of 3D flower-like structured Gd/TiO₂@rGO nanocomposites via a hydrothermal method with high photocatalytic activity.

TiO2 nanoparticles assembled on kaolinites with different morphologies for efficient photocatalytic performance

Natural kaolinite clays with different dimensionalities (including kaolinite nanoflakes and nanorods) supported TiO₂ nanoparticles were successfully prepared via a facile sol-gel method. Moreover, comparisons between FK/TiO₂ and RK/TiO₂ nanocomposites are conducted in terms of matrix morphology, surface property, energy band structure and interfacial interaction. The effects of kaolinite microstructure, morphology and dimensionality on the interfacial characteristics and photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposites were investigated in detail. The results showed that TiO₂ nanoparticles are more easily attached on the kaolinite nanoflakes, and possess more uniform distribution and smaller particle size than that of kaolinite nanorods. In particular, the FK/TiO₂ nanocatalysts exhibit higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride than that of RK/TiO₂ and bare TiO₂, which is attributed to the stronger surface adsorptivity, higher loading efficiency and smaller grain size. Additionally, FK/TiO₂ composites show excellent stability, which is ascribed to the intimate interfacial contact between two-dimensional kaolinite nanoflakes and TiO₂ nanoparticles. Overall, the enhanced catalytic performance for FK/TiO₂ composites is the synergistic effect of two-dimensional morphology, better adsorption capability and more active photocatalysis TiO₂ species.