Characterization of titania inverse opals prepared by two distinct infiltration approaches

Journal Article · Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2017.12.035· OSTI ID:22805120

Curti, Mariano ^[1]

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1. Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Dean Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata (Argentina)

Highlights: • Preparation, characterization, and comparison of two types of titania inverse opals (IOs). • Infiltration is the key-step for producing IOs with improved optical, photonic, mechanical, and photocatalytic properties. • An innovative methodology for the infiltration with already prepared dispersed titania nanoparticles. - Abstract: Titanium dioxide inverse opals were prepared by the typical method of infiltration with a liquid precursor (LP-IOs) and by an improved method in which the infiltration step is done with a suspension of TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (NP-IOs). A thorough characterization study was performed on both types of preparations in order to highlight the differences between the resulting inverse opal samples. The formation of a compact overlayer in LP-IO samples inherent to the use of a liquid precursor proved to be detrimental for the optical and photonic properties of the inverse opals. NP-IO samples, on the other hand, showed improved optical, photonic, and mechanical properties. The photocatalytic degradation of a model compound (a well-known dye, methylene blue) revealed that NP-IO samples are able to degrade the model compound at a higher rate due to the absence of the compact overlayer which acts as a mass and light blocking barrier.

• OSTI ID: 22805120
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 101; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
LIQUIDS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METHYLENE BLUE
NANOPARTICLES
NANOSTRUCTURES
OPALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
TITANIUM OXIDES
VISIBLE RADIATION