Abstract The development of sustainable photocatalysts and their efficient utilization of solar light is one of key topics for addressing the current and future environmental remediation concerns. Herein, we report an ultrasonic-assisted green synthesis of mesoporous titanium dioxide (m-TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) using an egg white protein (EWP) biotemplate derived from expired eggs, hereafter referred to as EWP-TiO2 NPs. The EWP biotemplate played multiple roles, such as source of nonmetallic elements (N, S, and C), structure-directing agent, and self-solvent, consequently bestowing excellent features on TiO2 photocatalyst. X-ray Diffraction, BET surface area, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicated that the synthesized NPs have anatase phase of m-TiO2 NPs with Tri-N-S-C doping. The spherical EWP-TiO2 NPs exhibited a substantial decrease of the particle size as compared to EWP-free analogue (so-called bare TiO2 NPs). The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared TiO2 samples were evaluated by degrading Rhodamine B under simulated solar light (100 mW/cm2). The EWP-TiO2 NPs exhibited the two-fold higher photocatalytic activity than that of bare TiO2, owing to enlarged surface area, red-shift in the optical absorption band, and efficient charge separation. The biotemplate derivatization is a very effective strategy for fabricating mesoporous semiconductor doped with nonmetallic elements.

中文翻译：

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通过超声辅助衍生生物模板从过期蛋清蛋白生物合成介孔 N-S-C 三掺杂 TiO2 光催化剂

摘要 可持续光催化剂的开发及其对太阳光的有效利用是解决当前和未来环境修复问题的关键课题之一。在此，我们报告了使用源自过期鸡蛋的蛋清蛋白 (EWP) 生物模板（以下称为 EWP-TiO2 NPs），超声辅助绿色合成介孔二氧化钛 (m-TiO2) 纳米粒子 (NPs)。EWP 生物模板发挥多种作用，如非金属元素（N、S 和 C）来源、结构导向剂和自溶剂，从而赋予 TiO2 光催化剂优异的特性。X 射线衍射、BET 表面积和 X 射线光电子能谱分析表明合成的 NPs 具有带有 Tri-NSC 掺杂的 m-TiO2 NPs 锐钛矿相。与无 EWP 的类似物（所谓的裸 TiO2 NPs）相比，球形 EWP-TiO2 NPs 的粒径显着减小。通过在模拟太阳光 (100 mW/cm2) 下降解罗丹明 B 来评估制备的 TiO2 样品的光催化活性。由于表面积增大、光吸收带红移和有效的电荷分离，EWP-TiO2 NPs 表现出比裸 TiO2 高两倍的光催化活性。生物模板衍生化是制备掺杂非金属元素的介孔半导体的一种非常有效的策略。由于表面积增大、光吸收带红移和有效的电荷分离，EWP-TiO2 NPs 表现出比裸 TiO2 高两倍的光催化活性。生物模板衍生化是制备掺杂非金属元素的介孔半导体的一种非常有效的策略。由于表面积增大、光吸收带红移和有效的电荷分离，EWP-TiO2 NPs 表现出比裸 TiO2 高两倍的光催化活性。生物模板衍生化是制备掺杂非金属元素的介孔半导体的一种非常有效的策略。