Skip to main content
Log in

Preparation and characterization of highly photoactive nanocrystalline TiO2 powders by solvent evaporationinduced crystallization method

  • Published:
Science in China Series B: Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Highly photoactive bi-phase nanocrystalline TiO2 photocatalyst was prepared by a solvent evaporation-induced crystallization (SEIC) method, and calcined at different temperatures. The obtained TiO2 photocatalyst was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET surface areas. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic oxidation of acetone in air. The results show that solvent evaporation can promote the crystallization and phase transformation of TiO2 at 100°C. When calcination temperatures are below 600°C, the prepared TiO2 powders show bimodal pore size distributions in the mesoporous region. At 700°C, the pore size distributions exhibit monomodal distribution of the inter-aggregated pores due to the collapse of the intra-aggregated pores. At 100°C, the obtained TiO2 photocatalyst by this method shows good photocatalytic activity, and at 400°C, its photocatalytic activity exceeds that of Degussa P25. This may be attributed to the fact that the prepared TiO2 photocatalyst has higher specific surface areas, smaller crystallite size and bimodal pore size distribution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hoffmann, M. R., Martin, S. T., Choi, W. et al., Environmental applications of semiconductor photocatalysis, Chem. Rev., 1995, 95: 69–96.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Fujishima, A., Rao, T. N., Tryk, D. A., Titanium dioxide photocatalysis, J. Photochem. Photobiol. C: Photochem. Rev., 2000, 1: 1–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hagfeldt, A., Gratzel, M., Light-induced redox reactions in nanocrystalline systems, Chem. Rev., 1995, 95: 49–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yu, J. C., Yu, J., Ho, W. et al., Preparation of highly photocatalytic active nano-sized TiO2 particles via ultrasonic irradiation, Chem. Commum., 2001, 14(19): 1942–1943.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Yu, J. C., Yu, J., Ho, W. et al., Effects of F--doping on the photocatalytic activity and microstructures of nanocrystalline TiO2 powders, Chem. Mater., 2002, 14(9): 3808–3816.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Yu, J., Yu, J. C., Ho, W. et al., Effects of calcination temperature on the photocatalytic activity and photo-induced super-hydrophilicity of mesoporous TiO2 thin films, New J. Chem., 2002, 26: 607–613.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Liu, H., Yang, W., Ma, Y. et al., Promoted phase transition of titania nanoparticles prepare by a photo-assisted sol-gel method, New J. Chem., 2002, 26: 975–977.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhang, H., Banfield, J. F., Understanding polymorphic phase transformation behavior during growth of nanocrystalline aggregates: insights from TiO2, J. Phys. Chem. B, 2000, 104: 3481–3487.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sing, K. S. W., Everett, D. H., Haul, R. A. W. et al., Reporting physisorption data for gas/solid systems with special reference to the determination of surface area and porosity, Pure Appl. Chem., 1985, 57: 603–619.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Yu, J., Yu, J. C., Leung, M. K. P. et al., Effects of acidic and basic hydrolysis catalysts on the photocatalytic activity and microstructures of bimodal mesoporous titania, J. Catal., 2003, 217: 69–78.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kumar, K. N. P., Kumar, J., Keizer, K., Effect of peptization on densification and phase-transformation behavior of sol-gel-derived nanostructured titania, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1994, 77: 1396–1400.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiaguo Yu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yu, J., Yu, J.C., Cheng, B. et al. Preparation and characterization of highly photoactive nanocrystalline TiO2 powders by solvent evaporationinduced crystallization method. Sc. China Ser. B-Chem. 46, 549–557 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1360/03yb0012

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/03yb0012

Keywords

Navigation