Effect of Microstructures on the Acidity and Catalytic Performance for H2Ti3O7 Nanomaterials

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of the microstructure of H2Ti3O7 nanomaterials on the acidity and catalytic performance were examined. Layered metal oxides H2Ti3O7, two‐dimensional H2Ti3O7 nanosheets and one‐dimensional H2Ti3O7 nanotubes were successfully synthesized. The physicochemical properties of the as‐prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, TG, BET, LRS and Py‐FTIR. Esterification of acetic acid with n‐butanol was employed as test reaction to evaluate the catalytic performance of the as‐prepared solid acid catalysts. The results show that the microstructure is important to the catalytic activity, and the catalytic performance of the nanotubes is significantly higher than the values from nanosheets and layered H2Ti3O7. H2Ti3O7 nanotubes with multi‐walled scroll‐type open end structure possess the largest specific surface area among the as‐prepared catalysts, and it has stronger Brønsted acid strength and larger acid amount than that of nanosheets. The high catalytic activity for nanotubes may result from surface acid characteristics and confinement effect.