Abstract
Nanoparticulate TiO2/Rh3+ sols have been synthesized by the colloidal sol–gel route. The combination of the data measured with optical techniques such as laser diffraction, dynamic light scattering and multiple light scattering with a near-infrared light allows us to follow up the evolution of the peptization process and to establish the effect of the presence of Rh3+ on it. It is observed that the presence of rhodium ions retards the peptization step (t2) and decreases both the average particle size of the nanoparticles and the viscosity of the nanoparticulate sols. In addition, when Rh3+ is present the isoelectric point shifts up to higher pH, which suggests that chemical adsorption of the rhodium (III) cations onto the surface of the TiO2 nanoparticles is produced. The xerogels and cryogels obtained from the sols are constituted by anatase as major phase and traces of brookite. The phase transition is observed at lower temperatures for the xerogels containing rhodium (III) and at higher temperatures in the case of the cryogels. Finally, photocatalytic activity is higher in the case of the TiO2/Rh3+ sols due to the rhodium (III) effect on the electronic transitions from the valence band to the conduction band.
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Acknowledgments
This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MAT2009-14369-C02-01) and the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Program (P6/17)-Belgian State-Belgian Science Policy. M. Borlaf thanks CSIC for the concession of an I3P grant.
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Borlaf, M., Poveda, J.M., Moreno, R. et al. Synthesis and characterization of TiO2/Rh3+ nanoparticulate sols, xerogels and cryogels for photocatalytic applications. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 63, 408–415 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-012-2802-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-012-2802-y