Effects of non-polar solvent on the morphology and property of three-dimensional hierarchical TiO2 nanostructures by one-step solvothermal route

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical rutile TiO2 microspheres composed of nanorods with diameter of several-tens of nanometers, with different morphologies and with average size ranging from 1.3 to 1.8 μm, were successfully synthesized through a surfactant-free solvothermal route. The effects of the solvents n-hexane, chloroform, and cyclohexane on the microstructures of 3D hierarchical TiO2 nanostructures were investigated. Results of scanning electron microscopy showed that 3D sea-urchin like hierarchical TiO2 composed of nanorods with a diameter of ~10 nm can only be prepared in the cyclohexane-water system. The growth mechanism of 3D sea-urchin like hierarchical TiO2 composed of numerous nanorods was further examined and found to differ from the well-known “growth → assembly” mode. The effects of surface tension and polarity of solvents on the morphology and crystal strength of 3D hierarchical TiO2 nanostructure were also investigated. In addition, the prepared 3D sea-urchin like hierarchical TiO2 showed highest photocatalytic activity compared with other 3D hierarchical TiO2 nanostructures in this study and Degussa P25 for the degradation of Rhodamine B solution under UV light irradiation, which could be attributed to its special hierarchical superstructure, the increase of surface catalytic sites and its special composition units.