Enhanced photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light by N-K2Ti4O9/MIL-101 composite

N-K₂Ti₄O₉/MIL-101 composites were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method, and were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence emission spectra, N₂ adsorption–desorption and thermogravimetric analysis. Photocatalytic activities of N-K₂Ti₄O₉, MIL-101 and the composites were investigated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The results show that the composites exhibit higher photocatalytic activity as compared with the pure materials. The synergistically enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composites is due to big adsorption capacity of MIL-101 and high separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs through interfaces between N-K₂Ti₄O₉ and MIL-101.