Effects of non-polar solvent on the morphology and property of three-dimensional hierarchical TiO nanostructures by one-step solvothermal route.

Zhou, Yi; Wu, Hongyan; Zhong, Xian; Liu, Ce

Three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical rutile TiO microspheres composed of nanorods with diameter of several-tens of nanometers, with different morphologies and with average size ranging from 1.3 to 1.8 μm, were successfully synthesized through a surfactant-free solvothermal route. The effects of the solvents n-hexane, chloroform, and cyclohexane on the microstructures of 3D hierarchical TiO nanostructures were investigated. Results of scanning electron microscopy showed that 3D sea-urchin like hierarchical TiO composed of nanorods with a diameter of ~10 nm can only be prepared in the cyclohexane-water system. The growth mechanism of 3D sea-urchin like hierarchical TiO composed of numerous nanorods was further examined and found to differ from the well-known 'growth → assembly' mode. The effects of surface tension and polarity of solvents on the morphology and crystal strength of 3D hierarchical TiO nanostructure were also investigated. In addition, the prepared 3D sea-urchin like hierarchical TiO showed highest photocatalytic activity compared with other 3D hierarchical TiO nanostructures in this study and Degussa P25 for the degradation of Rhodamine B solution under UV light irradiation, which could be attributed to its special hierarchical superstructure, the increase of surface catalytic sites and its special composition units.

CRYSTAL morphology; SOLVENTS; TITANIUM dioxide nanoparticles; THERMAL analysis; NANORODS; HEXANE

Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2014, Vol 16, Issue 7, p1

1388-0764

Academic Journal

10.1007/s11051-014-2466-3