The TiO 2 nanostructures were prepared using hydrothermal reaction technique at different reaction temperatures viz., 120°C, 160°C, and 200°C for 24 h. The synthesized TiO 2 nanostructures was characterised by various spectroscopic techniques. XRD indicate the formation of highly crystalline nano size particles of anatase phase of TiO 2 along with minor percentage of brookite phase. Diffuse reflectance UV-Visible spectroscopy depicts the band gap around 3.2 eV. The FE-SEM shows formation of spherical particles having size in the range of 5 to 10 nm, however the small particles tend to agglomerate leading to the formation of submicron size clusters. TEM analysis confirms the formation of nanostructured TiO 2 having size in the range of 5 to 10 nm with distorted spherical shaped morphology. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized TiO 2 was investigated by observing the degradation of aqueous methylene blue (MB) dye and H 2 generation via water splitting under 400 W mercury vapour lamp respectively. Among the prepared samples, the TiO 2 prepared at 160°C, showed highest MB degradation (97 %) within 1 h of irradiation time. The photocatalytic H 2 generation via water splitting was also investigated and found to be highest for TiO 2 prepared at 160°C, the observed rate of H 2 generation was 3848 μmol/0.1 g in 4 h is almost twelve fold higher than the pure anatase phase.
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