Titanium Butoxide Precursor Research Articles

Comparative study of surface, elemental, structural and optical morphologies of titanium dioxide-zinc oxide (TiO2-ZnO) and titanium dioxide-zinc oxide/graphene (TiO2-ZnO/Gn)

The aim of this study is to synthesize a highly dense nanosized TiO2-ZnO sample with graphene (TiO2-ZnO/Gn) thin film via solution immersion method and compare its properties with TiO2-ZnO thin film without graphene. To prepare the titanium dioxide solution, the titanium butoxide precursor was added to ethanol, glacial acetic acid and triton-x-100 with a drop of deionized water. Next, to prepare for the ZnO/Gn solution, the zinc nitrate hexahydrate was added to hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA). Then, a specific weight of graphene was added into the solution before left for ageing. The thin films will be characterized in order to consider and enhance the potential of TiO2-ZnO/Gn thin film in treating wastewater. Ultra-Violet Visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) were used to determine the optical, structural and morphological properties of the samples. From the UV–vis absorption spectra, the TiO2-ZnO/Gn shows the better UV–vis performance compared to the TiO2-ZnO sample. While the FESEM images for TiO2-ZnO/Gn confirmed the presence of the Gn deposited on the thin film with specific grain-like structures of TiO2, hexagonal nanorod ZnO and wrinkles shape of Gn. Finally, the XRD analysis confirmed the crystallinity of the samples, and the elements present on the glass substrate. It has shown that there are TiO2, ZnO and Gn peaks present in the XRD patterns. Thus, TiO2-ZnO/Gn is the best candidate to be used as the photocatalyst in treating the wastewater.

Single-step synthesis of TiO2/WO3−x hybrid nanomaterials in ethanoic acid: Structure and photoluminescence properties

In this paper, we report the one-step synthesis of the TiO2/WO3−x hybrid nanomaterials in ethanoic acid using the tungsten hexachloride (WCl6) and titanium butoxide precursors. The characterization results indicate that the WO3−x incorporation in TiO2 nanomaterials leads to the morphology conversion of TiO2 nanomaterials from the nanoparticles to the nanowire beams. The conversion mechanism is based on enhancing the nucleation rate of TiO2 and the viscosity of the solution containing the mixed WCl6 powder and titanium butoxide precursors. The photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal that the as-synthesized TiO2/WO3−x hybrid nanomaterials generate the UV, blue, green and red light, and these emissions are related to the band-band transition, surface states, oxygen vacancies and the transition between the gap state and valence band, respectively. Furthermore, WO3−x also leads to the PL quenching due to the oxygen vacancy migration and charge transfer across the TiO2/WO3−x interfaces and the enhancement of nonradiative recombination centers. Finally, the application of the as-synthesized hybrid nanomaterials in the area of photocatalysis was explored.

Role of block copolymer template for tailoring crystal structure and band gap of titania in mesoporous silica and organosilica particles

This work presents the tailoring of distinct titania (titania oxide) (TiO2) crystal structures inside the mesoporous silica and organosilica using several different block copolymer templates in acidic aqueous solution with different acidity. Different crystal structures of TiO2 have been obtained as rutile and anatase phases, mainly depending on the chemical composition of block copolymer templates used in this study. A PEO-PLGA-PEO (EO17(L28G7)EO17, LGE54) triblock copolymer, as well as typical Pluronic P123 (EO20PO70EO20) and F127 (EO106PO70EO106) triblock copolymers was employed as structure-directing templates for the sol-gel reaction of silane precursors. As silica and organosilica precursors, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTEE), and 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene (BTEB) were utilized with a titanium butoxide precursor. The crystal structure of TiO2 and its corresponding band gap were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) measurements, respectively. Anatase crystalline phase of TiO2 was found in the mesoporous sample prepared with Pluronic copolymer (i.e. P123 and F127) templates. On the other hand, the rutile phase was developed only in mesoporous samples prepared with an LGE54 PEO-PLGA-PEO triblock copolymer template. It was found the TiO2 crystal structure is varied mainly depending on the polymer template under various strong acidic conditions. It seems that a thermodynamically more stable rutile phase can be formed using a more hydrophobic LGE54 template which supplies stronger micelle core as a platform. Further, it is known that the incorporation of TiO2 in mesoporous silica and organosilica samples induces the conduction activity, especially toward the blue light region. Thus, this work can be applied to produce effective blue region semiconductor material with different crystallite structures by tuning the precursors and copolymer templates.

Synthesis of Metal Ion-Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles Using Two-Phase Method and Their Photocatalytic Activity Under Visible Light Irradiation.

In this study, TiO2 and metal ion-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by solvothermal reaction of titanium butoxide precursor in the presence of oleic acid, oleylamine and vapor water and they were characterized by XRD, Raman, TEM and DRS. We also investigated the photocatalytic activity of these oxides for the decomposition of Rhodamine B. From XRD and Raman results, doping of the metal ion in the crystal lattice did not change the high crystallinity of the TiO2 structure, and all the metal ions were incorporated into the structures of titania as well as replaced titanium ion or located at interstitial site. The absorption band shifted to a higher wavelength on the metal ion-doped TiO2 samples compared to the pure TiO2 sample. The Ce ion- doped TiO2 catalysts showed the higher photocatalytic activity compared to the pure TiO2 and a commercial P-25 catalysts and 1% Ce-doped TiO2 showed the highest photocatalytic activity.

Mesoporous Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) with hierarchically 3D dendrimeric architectures: Formation mechanism and highly enhanced photocatalytic activity

Mesoporous TiO2 with a hierarchically 3D dendrimeric nanostructure comprised of nanoribbon building units has been synthesized via a spontaneous self-formation process from various titanium alkoxides. These hierarchically 3D dendrimeric architectures can be obtained by a very facile, template-free method, by simply dropping a titanium butoxide precursor into methanol solution. The novel configuration of the mesoporous TiO2 nanostructure in nanoribbon building units yields a high surface area. The calcined samples show significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity and degradation rates owing to the mesoporosity and their improved crystallinity after calcination. Furthermore, the 3D dendrimeric architectures can be preserved after phase transformation from amorphous TiO2 to anatase or rutile, which occurs during calcination. In addition, the spontaneous self-formation process of mesoporous TiO2 with hierarchically 3D dendrimeric architectures from the hydrolysis and condensation reaction of titanium butoxide in methanol has been followed by in situ optical microscopy (OM), revealing the secret on the formation of hierarchically 3D dendrimeric nanostructures. Moreover, mesoporous TiO2 nanostructures with similar hierarchically 3D dendrimeric architectures can also be obtained using other titanium alkoxides. The porosities and nanostructures of the resultant products were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, and N2 adsorption–desorption measurements. The present work provides a facile and reproducible method for the synthesis of novel mesoporous TiO2 nanoarchitectures, which in turn could herald the fabrication of more efficient photocatalysts.

Synthesis of hollow titania microspheres by using microfluidic droplet-template

Droplet-based microfluidics is of great interest due to its particular characteristics compared with the conventional methods, such as reduced reagent consumption, rapid mixing, high-throughput, shape controlled, etc. A novel method using microfluidic droplet as soft template for the synthesis of hollow titania microspheres was developed. A typical polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device containing "flow-focusing" geometry was used to generate water/oil (W/O) droplet. The mechanism for the hollow structure formation was based on the interfacial hydrolysis reaction between the continuous phase containing titanium butoxide precursor and the dispersed containing water. The continuous phase mixed with butanol was added in the downstream of the channel after the hydrolysis reaction. This step was used for drawing the water out of the microgels for further hydrolysis. The microgels obtained through a glass pipe integrated were washed, dried under vacuum and calcined after aging for a certain time. The fluorescence and scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the microspheres indicated the hollow structure and the thickness of the shell. In addition, these microspheres with thin shell (about 2 microm) were apt to rupture and collapse. Droplet-based microfluidic offered a gentle and size-controllable manner to moderate this problem. Moreover, it has potential applications in photocatalysis combined with some modification realized on the chip simultaneously.

Synthesis of ZrTiO4and Ta2Zr6O17Films by Composition-Combinatorial Approach through Surface Sol-Gel Method and Their Dielectric Properties

Single phases of multi-component oxides films, ZrTiO 4 and Ta 2 Zr 6 O 17 , could be synthesized by using the combinatorial approach through surface sol-gel route, coating the appropriate mole ratio of 100 mM zirconium butoxide, tantalum butoxide and titanium butoxide precursors on Pt/Ti/SiO 2 /Si (100) substrate, following pyrolysis at 450 °C, and annealing them at 770 °C. Both the films and bulks of ZrTiO 4 and Ta 2 zr 6 O 17 showed very stable dielectric properties in temperature range, -140 to 60 °C, and frequency range, 100 Hz to 1 MHz, promising their applications in wide range of temperatures and frequencies. The dielectric constants of the films were lower and a little more dependent on frequency than those of the bulks. The reduction of dielectric property in the film was mainly due to the interracial effects that worked as series and parallel-connected capacitances toward the substantial film capacitance.

Synthesis, magnetic and microwave absorbing properties of core-shell structured MnFe 2O 4/TiO 2 nanocomposites

The core-shell MnFe 2O 4–TiO 2 nano-composites were prepared by hydrolysis of titanium butoxide precursor in the presence of MnFe 2O 4 nanoparticles that were synthesized via the pyrolysis of polyacrylate salt precursor prepared by in situ polymerization of the metal salts and acrylate acid. The magnetic properties of the MnFe 2O 4 and MnFe 2O 4–TiO 2 composites measured at the maximum magnetic field of 10 kOe and room temperature exhibited a super-paramagnetic behavior. The complex permittivity and permeability of MnFe 2O 4 and MnFe 2O 4–TiO 2 composites measured in the microwave frequency range of 2–10 GHz showed that the microwave absorption properties of the MnFe 2O 4–TiO 2 composites were higher than that of MnFe 2O 4.

Synthesis and characterization of titanium oxide-based gels synthesized from acetate modified titanium butoxide precursors

Stable sols and gels are obtained upon hydrolysis of acetic acid modified titanium butoxide. Sols and gels have been mainly characterized by IR, NMR and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. The network is formed by oxoacetate polymers in which acetate ligands are in chelating position and titanium atoms in 6-fold coordination. These polymers are weakly dense.