Abstract
A novel anatase TiO 2 submicrosphere with a rough shell of nanothorns was fabricated at room temperature by a chemical solution deposition technique using TiF 4. The resulting sample was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen sorption measurements and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. The fabricated TiO 2 submicrospheres had a uniform size of about 500 nm. The shell of TiO 2 submicrospheres was covered by nanorods of 20–30 nm in diameter. These nanorods consisted of nanothorns which were 5–8 nm in diameter and about 20 nm in length. The unique rough shell resulted in higher absorbance because the light can have multiple reflections among nanorods and nanothorns. The TiO 2 submicrospheres exhibited similar performance as commercial nanoparticle TiO 2 (P25) on photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue (MB). The TiO 2 submicrospheres were completely separated from treated water by membrane filtration without serious membrane fouling compared to P25. The durability test showed that the mechanical strength and photocatalytic activity are stable enough for multiple recycling. This environmentally friendly and energy efficient method may pave way for new photocatalyst design.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
