Fabrication and photocatalytical properties of flower-like TiO 2 nanostructures

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) flower-like anatase TiO 2 nanostructures and flower-like titanate nanostructures were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal synthesis followed by post-treatment from titanium powder. The flower-like anatase TiO 2 nanostructures were characterized in detail with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectrum and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurement, respectively. It is found that the flower-like TiO 2 nanostructures have a high specific surface area and a large light-harvesting efficiency. The photocatalytical activity of the flower-like anatase TiO 2 nanostructures was determined by degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution, and was compared with commercial P25 titania. It is revealed that the photocatalytical activity of the flower-like anatase TiO 2 nanostructures is enhanced a lot. The apparent rate constant of the flower-like anatase TiO 2 nanostructures is almost 2 times that of P25 titania.