1. Template-Free Synthesis of Core-Shell TiO2 Microspheres Covered with High-Energy {116}-Facet-Exposed N-Doped Nanosheets and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Light.
- Author
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Chen, Qifeng, Ren, Baosheng, Zhao, Yubao, Xu, Xun, Ge, Heyi, Guan, Ruifang, and Zhao, Jincai
- Subjects
TITANIUM dioxide ,PHOTOCATALYSIS ,MOLECULAR self-assembly ,NANOSTRUCTURED materials ,HYDROFLUORIC acid - Abstract
Core-shell TiO
2 microspheres possess a unique structure and interesting properties, and therefore, they have received much attention. The high-energy facets of TiO2 also are being widely studied for the high photocatalytic activities they are associated with. However, the synthesis of the core-shell structure is difficult to achieve and requires multiple-steps and/or is expensive. Hydrofluoric acid (HF), which is highly corrosive, is usually used in the controlling high-energy facet production. Therefore, it is still a significant challenge to develop low-temperature, template-free, shapecontrolled, and relative green self-assembly routes for the formation of core-shell-structured TiO2 microspheres with high-energy facets. Here, we report a template- and hydrofluoric acid free solvothermal self-assembly approach to synthesize core-shell TiO2 microspheres covered with high-energy {116}-facet-exposed nanosheets, an approach in which 1,4-butanediamine plays a key role in the formation of nanosheets with exposed {116} facets and the doping of nitrogen in situ. In the structure, nanoparticle aggregates and nanosheets with {116} high-energy facets exposed act as core and shell, respectively. The photocatalytic activity for degradation of 2,4,6-tribromophenol and Rhodamine B under visible irradiation and UV/Vis irradiation has been examined, and improved photocatalytic activity under visible light owing to the hierarchical core-shell structure, {116}-plane-oriented nanosheets, in situ N doping, and large surface areas has been found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2014
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