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Influences of Morphology and Doping on the Photoactivity of TiO2 Nanostructures

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Book cover Structural Nanocomposites

Part of the book series: Engineering Materials ((ENG.MAT.))

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Abstract

Compared to the bulk, the nanoscale provides special characteristics for the functional materials. Moreover, the nanostructural morphology has also distinct influences. Enormous efforts have been devoted to the research of TiO2 material, which has led to many promising applications. Beside the morphology impact, doping of titanium dioxide nanostructures by pristine metal nanoparticles (e.g. Ag, Pt, … etc.) revealed distinct improvement in the photocatalytic activity. Although the doping process can remarkably improve the photoactivity, it has also noticeable influences on the crystal structure. In this chapter, the important parameters affecting the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 are discussed; morphology and silver doping. Also, effect of sliver-doping on the crystal structure and the nanofibrous morphology is investigated. Moreover, the influence of the temperature on the photodegradation process using Ag-doped TiO2 nanostructures will be addressed. Two morphologies were introduced; nanoparticles and nanofibers. The nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning of a sol–gel consisting of titanium isopropoxide, silver nitrate and poly(vinyl acetate). The silver nitrate amount was changed to produce nanofibers having different silver contents. The nanoparticles were prepared from the same sol-gels, however instead of spinning the gels were dried, grinded and sintered. The experimental and analytical studies indicate that doping by silver reveals to form anatase and rutile when the silver nitrate content in the mother solution was more than 3 wt%. The rutile phase content is directly proportional with the AgNO3 concentration. Negative impact of the silver-doping on the nanofibrous morphology was observed as increase the silver content caused to decrease the aspect ratio, i.e. producing nanorods rather nanofibers. However, silver-doping leads to modify the surface roughness. In contrast to the known influence of the temperature on the chemical reactions, in case of the nanofibrous morphology of Ag-doped TiO2, the temperature has negative impact on the photoactivity.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science Technology (MEST) and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) through the Human Resource Training Project for Regional Innovation and “Leaders in Industry-University Cooperation”. We thank Mr. T. S. Bae and J. C. Lim, KBSI, Jeonju branch, and Mr. Jong- Gyun Kang, Centre for University Research Facility, for taking high-quality FESEM and TEM images, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering Department, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, Republic of Korea

    Nasser A. M. Barakat

  2. Chemical Engineering Department, Minia University, El-Minia, 61111, Egypt

    Nasser A. M. Barakat

  3. Technical University of Denmark, DTU Food, Soltofts plads, B 227, 2800, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark

    Muzafar A. Kanjwal

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  1. Nasser A. M. Barakat
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  2. Muzafar A. Kanjwal
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Correspondence to Nasser A. M. Barakat .

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  1. Institute for Innovation, Design & Susta School of Engineering, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

    James Njuguna

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Barakat, N.A.M., Kanjwal, M.A. (2013). Influences of Morphology and Doping on the Photoactivity of TiO2 Nanostructures. In: Njuguna, J. (eds) Structural Nanocomposites. Engineering Materials. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40322-4_5

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