Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of 1D TiO2 nanostructures

Abstract

Nanowire/nanorod TiO(2) structures of approximately 8 nm in diameter and around 1,000 nm long were synthesized by alkaline hydrothermal treatment of two different TiO(2) nanopowders. The first precursor was TiO(2) obtained by the sol-gel process (SG-TiO(2)); the second was the well-known commercial TiO(2) P-25 (P25-TiO(2)). Anatase-like 1D TiO(2) nanostructures were obtained in both cases. The one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures synthesized from SG-TiO(2) powders turned into rod-like nanostructures after annealing at 400 °C for 2 h. Conversely, the nanostructures synthesized from P25-TiO(2) preserved the tubular structure after annealing, displaying a higher Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area than the first system (279 and 97 m²/g, respectively). Despite the higher surface area shown by the 1D nanostructures, in both cases the photocatalytic activity was lower than for the P25-TiO(2) powder. However, the rod-like nanostructures obtained from SG-TiO(2) displayed slightly higher efficiency than the sol-gel prepared powders. The lower photocatalytic activity of the nanostructures with respect to P-25 can be associated with the lower crystallinity of 1D TiO(2) in both materials.

1D TiO2 Nanostructures Prepared from Seeds Presenting Tailored TiO2 Crystalline Phases and Their Photocatalytic Activity for Escherichia coli in Water

“…Results obtained in our laboratories show that 1D TiO 2 nanostructures display photocatalytic activity for dye degradation [7]. Although its performance as a photocatalyst is not as good as other industrially produced TiO 2 , this form of TiO 2 can be easily recuperated from the solution.…”

Effects of the geometry of reinforcement on physical properties of sodium caseinate/TiO2 nanocomposite films for applications in food packaging

“…The nanotubes were obtained via alkaline hydrothermal synthesis following a method previously described, with some minor changes. [17,18] In summary, 250 mg of spherical geometry nanoparticles of P25 were mixed with 25 g of 10 M NaOH aqueous solution in a 50 mL capacity steel-Teflon autoclave reactor. Once the device was sealed, it was placed in an oven at 120 C for 24 h. After this time, consecutive washes were carried out with distilled water using an ultracentrifuge (11,068 g for 10 min each cycle) until a pH of less than 9 was reached in the wash solution.…”

Photoelectrochemical water splitting process using titanium dioxide photocatalyst: A brief overview

“…Therefore, 1D nanostructured TiO2 film is used in photoreactors for cost-effective purposes. Various methodologies such as hydrothermal, sol-gel, and anodization can be used to create 1D TiO2 nanostructures [16], [21][22][23].…”