High-temperature Route Research Articles

Synthesis and structural study of the partially disordered complex hexagonal phase δ1-MnZn9.7.

A detailed structural analysis of the Zn-rich δ1-MnZn9.7 phase using single-crystal X-ray diffraction is presented. The δ1 phase has been synthesized by the high-temperature synthetic route. The structure crystallizes in space group P63/mmc (Pearson symbol hP556) with unit-cell parameters: a = b = 12.9051 (2) Å and c = 57.640 (1) Å. The 556 atoms are distributed over 52 Wyckoff positions in the hexagonal unit cell: seven ordered Mn sites, 37 ordered Zn sites and eight positionally disordered Zn sites. The structure predominantly consists of Frank-Kasper polyhedra (endohedral icosahedra Zn12 and icosioctahedron Zn16) and four distinct types of glue Zn atoms. The structure comprises a 127-atom supercluster (Mn13Zn114), a 38-atom extended Pearce cluster (Mn3Zn35), a 46-atom L-tetrahedron (Mn4Zn42), a Friauf polyhedron (Zn17), a disordered icosahedral cluster (MnZn12) and four glue Zn atoms. Positionally disordered Zn sites around an Mn site can be visualized as the superimposition of three differently oriented Zn12 icosahedra.

High-temperature anodization route to nanoporous niobium oxides with enhanced supercapacitive properties in aqueous electrolytes

Relatively little work has been done on Nb2O5 pseudocapacitive behaviors in aqueous solutions. Here, the galvanostatic anodization of niobium in K2HPO4-containing glycerol electrolyte at high temperature is fully explored. The anodically grown films on niobium have ordered nanoporous morphology and are composed of a low-crystalline orthorhombic Nb2O5, which can be directly employed as supercapacitor electrodes without any posttreatment process. To further improve their supercapacitive performances, a facile technique to generate Fe-doped Nb2O5 films is developed, where the as-anodized films are treated by an electrochemical doping in FeCl3 ethylene glycol solution. The Fe-doped Nb2O5 films show a wider potential window and higher capacitance than that of the as-anodized films in aqueous electrolytes. They present a maximum areal capacitance of 168.1 mF cm−2 at 1 mV s−1 and excellent cycling stability with 85.8 % capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. The charge storage in the Fe-doped Nb2O5 is believed to occur by the incorporation of Li+ ions with concomitant reduction of Nb5+ to Nb4+ in aqueous lithium-containing solutions. Unlike nonaqueous media, Li+ intercalation/deintercalation in aqueous media is a diffusion-controlled process, leading to the comparatively slower pseudocapacitive processes. Nevertheless, in terms of an industrial applicability the Fe-doped Nb2O5 films deserve special attention.

Cool white light emitting Dy3+ activated KNaCa2(PO4)2 phosphor for outdoor lighting and optical thermometric applications

Dy3+ incorporated KNaCa2(PO4)2 phosphor (KNCP) with doping concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.7 mol were synthesised via high-temperature solid state reaction route. The morphological characteristics were examined using FESEM images and found agglomerated structure in micrometers with an average particle size of 4.037 µm. Photoluminescence emission spectra under 350 nm excitation reveal nearly equal intense blue and yellow emission bands owing to 4F9/2→6H15/2 and 4F9/2→6H13/2 Dy3+ transitions, respectively. The concentration-dependent emission properties were examined and the optimum concentration was found to be 0.03 mol. The synthesized phosphor exhibits a quantum yield of 69.06 % at the optimal Dy³⁺ doping concentration. The time-correlated emission characteristics were analysed from the TRES plot. Furthermore, the emission bands at 479 nm (4F9/2→6H15/2) and 572 nm (4F9/2→6H13/2) under 350 nm excitation follow bi-exponential decay having an average lifetime in the range of 0.90–0.37 ms. The prepared phosphors exhibit an intense cool white light regardless of doping concentration and delay time. Optical thermometric properties of KNCP Dy phosphor were investigated by fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique and exhibit relative thermal sensitivity of 2.57 and 0.7 %K−1 in the temperature range of 90 −230 K and 250–500 K respectively. The excellent quantum yield, sub-millisecond lifetime, cool colour temperature, and higher temperature sensitivities make them ideal for outdoor lighting and optical thermometric applications.

Functionalized porous conductive carbon layer improves the low-temperature performance of LiFePO4 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) has been successfully utilized due to its stable structure, low cost, and higher safety. Nevertheless, the sluggish diffusion kinetics and low electrical conductivity have suppressed the rate capacity and long-term cyclability at lower temperature, causing significant capacity degradation problems. Herein, to address such issues, a well-designed 3D porous structure LFP@NS is synthesized via the sol-gel method combined with a high-temperature calcination route. Furthermore, the nitrogen and sulfur in thiourea can be induced to enter the carbon matrix, resulting in generating more defects and active sites. Simultaneously, N,S co-doped carbon matrix can form successive migration channels for lithium-ion, which can promote the diffusion kinetics and electrical conductivity. The as-prepared LFP@NS-2 sample provides 158.5 mAh g−1 discharge capacity in the room temperature (RT) and 101.3 mAh g−1 (in −20 °C) at 1C, and exhibits remarkable cyclic performance (122.3 mAh g−1 after 2000 circles at 10C in the RT). Furthermore, to investigate the practical application in low temperature, coupled with a graphite (Gr) anode, the LFP@NS-2||Gr full battery releases 100.1mAh g−1 at 1C in −20 °C. Therefore, this work has a far-reaching implication for designing the high-performance LIBs electrode materials for practical application at low temperature.

Interpenetrated Lattices of Quaternary Chalcogenides Displaying Magnetic Frustration, High Na-Ion Conductivity, and Cation Redox in Na-Ion Batteries.

A series of quaternary selenides, NaxMGaSe4 (M = Mn, Fe, and mixed Zn/Fe), have been synthesized for the first time employing a high-temperature solid-state synthesis route through stochiometric or polychalcogenide flux reactions. Along with the selenides, a previously reported sulfide analogue, NaxFeGaS4, is also revisited with new findings. These compounds form an interpenetrated structure made up of a supertetrahedral unit. The electrochemical evaluations exhibit a reversible (de)intercalation of ∼0.6 and ∼0.45 Na-ions, respectively, from Na2.87FeGaS4 (1a) and Na2.5FeGaSe4 (2) involving Fe2+/Fe3+ redox when cycled between 1.5 and 2.5 V. Mössbauer spectroscopy of 1a shows the existence of a mixed oxidation state of Fe2+/3+ in the pristine compound and reversible oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ during the electrochemical cycles. Na2.79Zn0.6Fe0.4GaSe4 possesses a reasonably high room temperature ionic conductivity of 0.077 ms/cm with an activation energy of 0.30 eV. The preliminary magnetic measurements show a bifurcation of FC-ZFC at 4.5 and 2.5 K, respectively, for 1a and Na3MnGaSe4 (4) arising most likely from a spin-glass like transition. The high negative values of the Weiss constants -368.15 and -308.43 K for 1a and 4, respectively, indicate strong antiferromagnetic interactions between the magnetic ions and also emphasize the presence of a high degree of magnetic frustration in these compounds.

Double Helix of Icosahedra Structure and Spin Glass Magnetism of the δ-Co2.5Zn17.5-xMnx (x = 0.4-3.5) Pseudo-Binary Alloys.

We have synthesized δ-Co2.5Zn17.5-xMnx (x = 0.4-3.5) pseudo-binary alloys of 10 different compositions by a high-temperature solid-state synthetic route, determined their crystal structures and the Mn substitution pattern, and estimated the existence range of the δ-phase. The alloys crystallize in two chiral enantiomorphic space groups P62 and P64, where the basic atomic polyhedron of the chiral structure is an icosahedron and the neighboring icosahedra share vertices to form an infinitely long double helix along the hexagonal axis (like in the δ-Co2.5Zn17.5 parent binary phase). The alloys are pure δ-phase up to the Mn content x ≈ 3.5. The Mn atoms partially substitute Zn atoms at particular crystallographic sites located on the icosahedra. The study of magnetism was performed on the Co2.5Zn17.1Mn0.4 alloy with the lowest Mn content. Contrary to the expectation that structural chirality may induce the formation of a nontrivial magnetic state, a spin glass state with no relation to the structural chirality was found. The magnetic sublattice contains all of the necessary ingredients (randomness and frustration) for the formation of a spin glass state. Typical out-of-equilibrium dynamic phenomena of a spin system with broken ergodicity were detected below the spin freezing temperature Tf ≈ 8 K.

Synthesis and Characterization of Single Crystal Zircon-Hafnon Zr(1-x)Hf(x)SiO4 Solid Solutions and the Comparison with the Reaction Products of a TEOS-Based Hydrothermal Route.

Two synthesis routes of the zircon-hafnon solid solution series were carried out. The high-temperature route uses the growth of single crystals via a flux mixture that has been cooled down slowly from 1400 °C over 4 weeks. The reaction products were colorless and idiomorphic without byproducts. The hydrothermal tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)-based route represents the low-temperature method at 200 °C for approximately 7 days. The hydrothermal route yielded a white powder and scanning electron microscopy analysis thereof did not reveal any specific idiomorphic properties. However, the synthesis also featured some byproducts besides the zircon-hafnon solid solutions. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with differential scanning calorimetry, and mass spectroscopy indicated, that hydrothermal reaction products feature the presence of organic residues originating from the starting materials. However, a specific dependency on the hafnium content could not be observed due to the data scatter. Infrared (IR) analysis revealed the presence of Zr/Hf-oxides. The structural characterization demonstrated that properties change constantly with the hafnium amount, however, gradual variations of some properties related to the composition of the solid solution series depend in part on the synthesis route, considering the c/a ratio and IR modes. Furthermore, analyses of the single crystals by Raman spectroscopy and μXRF suggested a nonequilibrated crystal growth based on the starting composition.

Self-Assembly Intermetallic PtCu3 Core with High-Index Faceted Pt Shell for High-Efficiency Oxygen Reduction.

Rational design of well-defined active sites is crucial for promoting sluggish oxygen reduction reactions. Herein, leveraging the surfactant-oriented and solvent-ligand effects, we develop a facile self-assembly strategy to construct a core-shell catalyst comprising a high-index Pt shell encapsulating a PtCu3 intermetallic core with efficient oxygen-reduction performance. Without undergoing a high-temperature route, the ordered PtCu3 is directly fabricated through the accelerated reduction of Cu2+, followed by the deposition of the remaining Pt precursor onto its surface, forming high-index steps oriented by the steric hindrance of surfactant. This approach results in a high half-wave potential of 0.911 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, with negligible deactivation even after 15000-cycle operation. Operando spectroscopies identify that this core-shell catalyst facilitates the conversion of oxygen-involving intermediates and ensures antidissolution ability. Theoretical investigations rationalize that this improvement is attributed to reinforced electronic interactions around high-index Pt, stabilizing the binding strength of rate-determining OHads species.

Electrical characterization of Sn modified barium bismuth zirconate

BaBi4Sn4O15, a Sn-modified ceramic sample of layered ferroelectric oxide family, is developed using a high-temperature mixed oxide route after firing for calcination at 810 °C for 6 h in steps of 50 °C starting from 600 °C. An introductory XRD study of the compound displays the development of the new orthorhombic structured single-phase compound at atmospheric conditions. The electrical behaviors of the compound are investigated in a wide temperature span (30–500 °C) and frequencies ranging from 0.1 kHz to 1 MHz using an impedance analyzer. Dielectric behavior informs that the compound has a phase transition from Ferro to Paraelectric at 370 °C, which is well above room temperature. The impact of temperature and frequency on complex immittance parameters (impedance and modulus) is analyzed using an LCR meter in a broad temperature & frequency span. The electrical properties confirm; (a) the existence of semiconductor-like NTCR (negative temperature coefficients of resistance) behavior, (b) the evidence of the electric relaxation process as a function of temperature, (c) the existence of electric relaxation ascribed to the simultaneous contribution of bulk & bulk interfaces to the electrical behavior, and (d) presence of the non-Debye type relaxation phenomena. The frequency-dependent conductivity follows Jonscher’s universal power law.

Synthesis, sintering, mechanical properties, and oxidation behavior of (Zr0.5Me0.5)B2 (Me = Ta, Hf) solid solutions

In this work, (Zr0.5Ta0.5) B2 and (Zr0.5Hf0.5) B2 solid solutions are produced in dense form by coupling the Self-propagating High-temperature (SHS) and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) routes. A single boride phase solid solution is formed in both cases by SPS (1850 °C, 20 min) from the multiphasic ceramic powders preliminarily obtained by SHS. The use of small amounts of graphite during SPS is highly beneficial to eliminate oxide contaminants (from 14.5–16.0 wt% to 2.1–2.8 wt%), improve powder consolidation (from 87-90 % to 97.5–98 %), and make the operating conditions milder. Better mechanical properties are exhibited by the binary ceramics with respect to ZrB2 produced by SHS-SPS. The presence of Ta makes the performance of (Zr0.5Ta0.5)B2 superior compared to the Hf-containing system, with hardness, Young's modulus, and fracture toughness equal to 22.1 GPa, 636.9 GPa, and 2.46 MPa m1/2, respectively. On the other hand, (Zr0.5Hf0.5) B2 shows higher oxidation resistance in flowing and stagnant air at elevated temperatures.

Electron-transfer based selective oxidation of organic pollutants via N-doped biochar activated peroxydisulfate: Important role of oxidation potential

For persulfate-based advanced oxidation process, the non-radical pathway is an important route due to the selective oxidation of pollutants and its strong tolerance to complex water bodies. However, the selective oxidation mechanism of organic pollutants needs further elaboration. Herein, we demonstrate a facile hydrothermal pretreatment and high-temperature carbonization route to synthesize the nitrogen-doped porous biochar (NHBC-1). Owing to the well-developed hierarchical porous structure, the created internal active defects, and tailored nitrogen dopants, the NHBC-1 catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity for peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation. The results show that pyridinic N facilitated the adsorption of PDS on NHBC-1 to form the highly active NHBC-PDS* complex. Meanwhile, graphitic N and the defective structures promoted the electron-transfer process, thus allowing the efficient catalytic performance of the NHBC/PDS system for phenol oxidation via an electron-transfer dominated pathway. In addition, the system exhibited versatile applicability for the remediation of various organic pollutants in different actual water matrices with wide pH adaptability and satisfactory mineralization efficiency. More importantly, the selective oxidation mechanism of organic contaminants was revealed. Specifically, only the pollutant with oxidation potential lower than that of the NHBC-PDS* complex (0.91 V) can be effectively eliminated. This study not only provides a facile route for the rational designing of a cost-affordable biochar catalyst for PDS activation, but also offers valuable insights into the understanding of selective oxidation of organic contaminants via an electron-transfer dominated pathway.

Vanadium doping to increase the production batch size of Carbon-Free Ti4O7: A new strategy for its mass production

The most conductive Magnèli phase titanium suboxide, Ti4O7, has attracted increasing attention as a carbon-free conductive material due to its high electrical conductivity and electrochemical stability. However, this material has not been widely used in applications as a result of the difficulty of its mass production to limit the number of suppliers. In this study, a new and inexpensive route to increase the production batch size, i.e., the mass of carbon-free Ti4O7 synthesized in a single reaction, was developed. By simply doping vanadium into Ti4O7 via a conventional high-temperature synthesis route, the production batch size was successfully increased to 2 g. Vanadium (V) cations were found to not exist in the V5+ form, instead being reduced to V4+/V3+ in the Ti4O7 lattice without segregating to form other phases, and the production batch size increased with an increase in the vanadium-to-titanium atomic ratio up to 0.10. The optimized (Ti0.91V0.09)4O7 material can be used in polymer electrolyte fuel cell cathodes and is promising for use in many other applications.

Synthesis and characterization of narrow band emitting phosphors for plant growth and display applications

We developed a tunable Mn4+ doped LaAl1−xGaxO3 oxide phosphor with perovskite structure, synthesized by high-temperature solid-state routes to overcome the challenges of developing cost-effective and efficient narrow-band far-red emitting phosphors for the generation of artificial white light for plant growth. The effect of successfully substituting greater ionic radii Ga3+ for smaller ionic radii Al3+ on photophysical properties was explored theoretically and experimentally. Expansion occurs in the host lattice of LaAl1−xGaxO3:0.001Mn4+ perovskite oxide phosphors, causing a change in Stokes shift; as a result, optical characteristics tunes such as blue shifting the emission spectrum from the near-infrared (NIR) to the far-red spectral region, as well as efficient enhancement of luminescence intensity and thermal stability.

New Gd3+ and Mn2+-Co-Doped Scheelite-Type Ceramics-Their Structural, Optical and Magnetic Properties.

New Gd3+- and Mn2+-co-doped calcium molybdato-tungstates with the chemical formula of Ca1−3x−yMny▯xGd2x(MoO4)1−3x(WO4)3x (labeled later as CaMnGdMoWO), where ▯ denotes vacant sites in the crystal lattice, 0 < x ≤ 0.2500 and y = 0.0200 as well as 0 < y ≤ 0.0667 and x = 0.1667 were successfully synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction method and combustion route. Obtained ceramic materials crystallize in scheelite-type structure with space group I41/a. Morphological features and grain sizes of powders under study were investigated by SEM technique. Spectroscopic studies within the UV-vis spectral range were carried out to estimate the direct band gap (Eg) and Urbach energy (EU) of obtained powders. EPR studies confirmed the existence of two types of magnetic objects, i.e., Mn2+ and Gd3+ ions, and significant antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions among them.

A solution-route processed multicomponent Cu2ZnSn (S1-x Sex)4 nanocrystals: A potential low-cost photocatalyst

An exemplary perspective to comprehend the underlying role of multicomponent nanocrystals such as CZTS/SSe/Se (Cu2ZnSnS4/(SSe)4/Se4) revives the thrust for pioneering the non-vacuum approach for the development of multi-component-based chalcogenides utilizing organic solvents for the formation of nanocrystals, ideal for photo-voltaic/catalysts. This article envisages the employment of Trioctylphosphine (TOP) and Trioctylphosphine Oxide (TOPO) as capping agents cum solvent for CZTS/SSe/Se; the work proceeds with the anionic ratio variations in pristine counterparts of CZTSSe, i.e., to speculate the potential of quaternary chalcogenides where the properties of different materials coalesce and able to improve the characteristics efficiently. Gradually changing the ratio during nanocrystal synthesis via a high-temperature colloidal route imposes precise control over the properties. The synthesized nanocrystals are ingrained in Se-rich and highly crystalline, inhibiting the exigency of selenization and high-temperature annealing. Electrochemical, optical, and structural analysis was intensively studied and the best aliquot Se-ratio was considered to proceed as a photocatalyst. Photocatalysis is an enunciating approach for first aiding wastewater consisting of toxic materials, especially dyes and textile effluents, under sunlight. While, the converging lens deployment uplifts the efficiency and rate of reaction by many folds, it pioneers a new route of energy applications commercially.

High-temperature solid-state rutile-to-anatase phase transformation in TiO2

TiO2 has many polymorphs, among which rutile is the most thermodynamically stable. Bulk anatase TiO2 is usually a metastable phase at room temperature. Hence, phase transformation of bulk rutile TiO2 to anatase TiO2 by heat treatment is thermodynamically forbidden. However, the stability of TiO2 polymorphs is dependent on particle size and doping level. In this work, we harnessed this characteristic to develop a solid-state high-temperature route of sequential NH3 and O2 treatment that transforms rutile TiO2 to anatase phase via grain fracture and N-doping. As an additional advantage, this technique produces a mixture of anatase and rutile phases, with anatase being a major phase. Biphasic TiO2 is advantageous from a charge separation perspective for photocatalytic applications. Furthermore, the bandgap of anatase TiO2 can be manipulated by controlling the O2 treatment time to tune it for specific applications.

Electrospun cobalt nanoparticles embedded in pyrrole doped hollow mesoporous carbon nanofibers as efficient and durable oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc-air battery

The development of a bifunctional electrocatalyst with high durable activity and cost-effectiveness is the bottleneck of rechargeable Zinc-air batteries (RZABs) technology. Herein, by using the synergistic effect of pyrrole and cobalt, we synthesized a catalyst-cobalt nanoparticle-embedded pyrrole-doped hollow porous carbon nanofiber (Co-Py/HMPCNF) by a convenient electrospinning and high-temperature calcination route. We found that the addition of pyrrole significantly improved the ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) and OER (oxygen evolution reaction) activities of the catalyst, and the optimized Co-Py(1.5mL)/HMPCNF-900 (with a pyrrole content of 1.5 mL and a carbonization temperature of 900 °C) exhibited a positive onset potential (1.055 V) for ORR and OER showed excellent oxygen electrocatalytic activity and stability in terms of low overpotential (0.36 V at 10 mA cm−2), the RZABs constructed using Co-Py(1.5mL)/HMPCNF-900 exhibited an open-circuit voltage of 1.42 V, which is comparable to the Pt/C system, and its stability still does not fail after 278 h, which is better than that of the Pt/C catalyst. A detailed comparison of Co-Py(1.5mL)/HMPCNF-900 with other similar catalyst studies (Table S2) shows that Co-Py(1.5mL)/HMPCNF-900-based catalyst has great potential for practical application of RZABs and it is worth mentioning that the preparation process of this catalyst is simple and inexpensive.

Improved optical, dielectric, impedance, and magnetic properties of (BiFeO3)0.6(CaTiO3)0.4 for multifunctional utilities

The investigation of the multifaceted properties of (BiFeO3)0.6(CaTiO3)0.4, synthesized following a solid solution reaction mechanism is reported. The temperature-dependent dielectric and tanδ loss analysis sheds light on the temperature-dependent phase transitions. The structural deformation from the rhombohedral structure for pure BFO to the orthorhombic phase is evident from the Rietveld refinement. The optical energy gap investigation carried out through UV–Visible spectroscopy points out the potential useful photovoltaic applicability of the ceramic. The XPS analysis reveals the existence of multiple valency states of Fe, Ti, and oxygen defects which in turn might explain the underlying phenomena of hopping mechanisms and magnetic exchange interactions responsible for enhancing the ferroelectric, dielectric, and magnetic properties in the sample. The impedance and modulus analysis reveal the semiconducting and capacitive properties of the ceramic useful for device applications. Enhanced dielectric properties, weak ferromagnetic ordering due to suppression of G-type antiferromagnetism and double exchange paths, and reduced value of optical band gap as compared to the previous report are the novel findings in this communication.

Porous Ni3S2-Co9S8 Carbon Aerogels Derived from Carrageenan/NiCo-MOF Hydrogels as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution in Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries.

Herein, we fabricate N-doped porous Ni3S2-Co9S8/carbon aerogels (Ni3S2-Co9S8/NCAs) using carrageenan/NiCo-metal-organic framework (MOF) hydrogels as the precursor via the high-temperature carbonization route with excellent electrocatalytic properties for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The electrochemical measurements indicate that the Ni3S2-Co9S8/NCA as a quintessential electrocatalyst exhibits excellent OER performance, which has outperformed most transition metal sulfide (TMS) catalysts in alkaline environments, as attested with a lower overpotential of 337 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a smaller Tafel slope of 77 mV dec-1. Meanwhile, a Zn-air battery based on Ni3S2-Co9S8/NCA + Pt/C achieves a large power density of up to 256 mW cm-2 (and 193 mW cm-2), small charge/discharge voltage gap, and good cycling stability, notably better than the conventional RuO2 + Pt/C-based Zn-air batteries. These excellent electrocatalytic properties are mainly attributed to the distinct hierarchical porous structure and interfacial synergy between the Ni3S2 and Co9S8 nanoparticle structure with rich defects, facilitating the mass transport and high graphitization degree beneficial for electron mobility. It is envisioned that the research provides a novel approach for the exploration of marine biomass as an electrocatalyst.

Synthesis of degradable titanium disulfide nanoplates for photothermal ablation of tumors

Inorganic nanomaterials with high photothermal effects have received immense interest for photothermal therapy of tumors, while most of them suffer from long-term safety concerns due to their non-degradability. To address this issue, we have reported the PEGylated titanium disulfide (TiS2-PEG) nanoplates as degradable photothermal agents. The oleylamine-capped TiS2 nanoplates with an average size of ∼200 nm have been prepared via a high-temperature liquid-phase route, and they can be easily dispersed in nonpolar solvents and remain high stability for at least one month. To confer hydrophilicity, the oleylamine-capped TiS2 nanoplates are then surface-modified with amphiphilic PEGylated lipids through Van der Waals interactions. When dispersed in saline solution at 37 °C, the TiS2-PEG are unstable and they can be gradually decomposed into Ti(OH)4/TiO2 sol ultrasmall particles (<5 nm) within 72 h, indicating the suitable degradable feature. In addition, the TiS2-PEG nanoplates exhibit a strong near-infrared photoabsorption with a high photothermal conversion efficacy of 36.3% upon 808 nm laser irradiation. The in vitro and in vivo experiments confirm the low cytotoxicity of TiS2-PEG and high photothermal ablation ability towards cancer cells by the combination of TiS2-PEG and 808 nm laser. Importantly, owing to the degradability and size reduction, part of TiS2-PEG can be excreted from mice bodies via urine and feces, thus alleviating safety concerns. Therefore, the present TiS2-PEG nanoplates can act as a safe and degradable photothermal agent for tumor therapy, which also provides some insights into developing other degradable inorganic nanoagents.