Structure, light absorption properties and photocatalytic activity of carbon-containing titania nanocomposites synthesized via a facile sol-gel method.

Facile and green sol-gel method was used to synthesize carbon-containing titania nanopowder, and diethanolamine (DEA) was used as the in situ carbon source. The titania gel was heat treated at temperatures ranging from 300 to 700 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, and Raman spectroscopy reported no crystalline phase at <325 °C.