Preparation of extra-fine K2Ti6O13 by low energy consumption method and its photocatalysis properties.

The nano TiO₂ powders were prepared by an epoxide epoxy-driven sol-gel method with TiCl₄ solution as titanium source. Then, the self-made nano TiO₂ powders were mixed with potassium acetate to prepare K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whisker. The effects of sintering temperature and holding time on the crystal structure and morphology of potassium titanate were investigated in detail. The phase composition and morphology of the prepared whiskers were analyzed by XRD and SEM and the photochemical reaction apparatus was utilized to analyze the photocatalytic activity of whiskers. The results indicated that high quality of potassium hexatitanate whiskers with a better yield could be obtained under the calcining condition of 900 °C for 3 h. The average diameter of prepared whisker with uniform thickness and good dispersion is in the range of 0.3 µm, the ratio of length to diameter (L/D) can approach as 12. Furthermore, TC modeling molecular can be decomposed completely by the whiskers irradiated for 1 h with a 500 W mercury lamp, which shows that the prepared potassium titanate whiskers are a good type of materials for the pollution management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]