1. Determining the Morphology and Photocatalytic Activity of Two-Dimensional Anatase Nanoplatelets Using Reagent Stoichiometry
- Author
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David W. McComb, Robert Menzel, Milo S. P. Shaffer, Emanuela Liberti, Hin Chun Yau, and Andre Duerrbeck
- Subjects
Anatase ,Materials science ,General Chemical Engineering ,Inorganic chemistry ,chemistry.chemical_element ,General Chemistry ,Hydrogen fluoride ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Nanocrystal ,Materials Chemistry ,Selected area diffraction ,High-resolution transmission electron microscopy ,Fluoride ,Powder diffraction ,Titanium - Abstract
Two-dimensional TiO2 anatase nanoplatelets can be synthesized via solvothermal reaction of titanium(IV) isopropoxide in the presence of structure-directing hydrogen fluoride. High resolution electron transmission microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) show that the resulting nanoplatelets are heavily–truncated, octahedral TiO2 anatase nanocrystals with a large fraction of high-energy (001) crystal facets. Systematic studies provide insight into the underlying reaction pathways and the competing, morphology-determining roles of hydrogen fluoride and water during nanocrystal formation. TiF4 can be used as an additional or alternative fluoride source in hydrolytic systems, allowing the study of markedly higher fluoride concentrations than previously reported, and/or avoiding the use of HF as a starting material. The findings can be plotted on a HF:H2O:Ti ternary diagram to provide guidelines for the control of average dimensions, aspect ratio, degree...
- Published
- 2013