developed a simple hydrothermal method to convert TiO2
particles into nanotubes. Since then, the practical application of
TNTs has been extensively investigated. It is well known that
titanate nanotubes made via a hydrothermal treatment are
formed by the scrolling of TiO2 sheets and there are many coordinative
unsaturated O atoms and OH groups on the inner
and outer surfaces of the nanotubes. To keep the structure of
the nanotube intact under irradiation, the amount of OH groups
and unsaturated O atoms, which may induce the collapse of the
nanotubes during calcination and irradiation, must be decreased
[17,18]. In our previous work, we reported the photocatalytic
degradation of methyl orange under UV irradiation
over Pd‐loaded TiO2 nanofibers, which were prepared from
PdCl2 and hydrogen titanate nanotubes by a photodecomposition
method [19]. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 was enhanced
after palladium loading, but the nanotubular structure
was destroyed in the process of irradiation, which was detrimental
for the photocatalytic activity. Hence, it is essential to
explore the preparation of TNTs with high photostability and
photocatalytic activity.