Solvent effects on microstructures and properties of three-dimensional hierarchical TiO{sub 2} microsphere structures synthesized via solvothermal approach

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSSC.2017.05.001· OSTI ID:22742032

Xu, Shiping; Sun, Xiang; Gao, Yuan; Yue, Min; Yue, Qinyan; Gao, Baoyu

One-step solvothermal method has been proved to be a simple and efficient route to synthesize three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical TiO{sub 2} microsphere structures, but discrepant properties of the solvent media had been claimed as the major factors determining microstructures and properties of the final products. In this study, several typical solvents, including alkane, aromatic hydrocarbons, halohydrocarbon, ketone, organic acid, mono- and dihydric alcohols, were selected to comprehensively investigate the effect of solvents on the morphology, crystal structure, specific surface area, porous property and light harvesting capability of the final products. According to the experimental results, a good interface separating titanium precursor with aqueous phase in the reaction solution, created by non-polar solvents, or polar solvents which are immiscible with titanium precursor, was the decisive factor for the formation of quasi-3D urchin-like TiO{sub 2} microspheres self-assembled from one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, and concentrated H{sup +} induced by organic acid medium was also helpful. Meanwhile, without the liquid-liquid interface or extremely low solution pH, anatase TiO{sub 2} sphere structures with big specific surface area comprising of nanoparticles or nanosheets would be formed, and performed well in photodegradation of pollutants in water. - Graphical abstract: A good interface separating titanium precursor with aqueous phase is the determining factor to form 3D ordered TiO{sub 2} microspheres self-assembled by 1D nanostructures via solvothermal reaction. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Solvent property is important for the solvothermally synthesized TiO{sub 2} products. • Interface separating titanium precursor with aqueous phase is a determining factor. • Dielectric constant of solvents is also very important. • Low solution pH is helpful for the formation of rod-like building block structures.

• OSTI ID: 22742032
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 253; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
HYDROGEN IONS 1 PLUS
HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS
INTERFACES
MICROSPHERES
MICROSTRUCTURE
NANOSTRUCTURES
ORGANIC ACIDS
OXIDATION
POROUS MATERIALS
PRECURSOR
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL LATTICES
TITANIUM OXIDES