Abstract
This work reports the preparation of nanostructured polycrystalline TiO 2 photocatalysts obtained by hydrolysis of TiCl 4 in very mild conditions. Several samples were prepared as suspensions or colloidal dispersions by using TiCl 4/H 2O volume ratios ranging between 1:1 and 1:100. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis, specific surface area determination, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. 4-Nitrophenol photodegradation was used as probe reaction to test the photoactivity of the catalysts. Some samples revealed a photoactivity higher than that of Degussa P25 in similar experimental conditions and the most photoactive one was that prepared by using the TiCl 4/H 2O volume ratio equal to 1:50. A dialysis process was performed in some cases to reduce the amount of chloride ions present in the system. The presence of Cl − ions appeared to be dramatically detrimental for Degussa P25 while a lower influence was found for the home prepared samples.
Published Version
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