Highly Active K<sub>2</sub>Ti<sub>6</sub>O<sub>13</sub> Nanowires: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Novel K2Ti6O13 nanowires were successfully synthesized by a new method， that is sol-gel/ hydrothermal combined method. The crystal structure and morphology of the products were characterized by a series of methods including XRD, SEM, EDX and TEM. The results indicate that the products synthesized are K2Ti6O13 nanowires. The diameter is about 5nm, and its length is in the range of from a few micrometers to hundreds of micrometers. The TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized via a sol-gel method, as hydrothermal reaction precursors, play an important decisive role on the diameter of K2Ti6O13 nanowires and the hydrothermal reaction rate. Photocatalytic degradation of MB in presence of the K2Ti6O13 nanowires was compared with that in presence of the TiO2 nanoparticles. The results show that the nanowires have better photocatalytic activity.