Web Release Date: February 29,
Directed Synthesis of Hierarchical Nanostructured TiO2 Catalysts and their Morphology-Dependent Photocatalysis for Phenol Degradation
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100080, China, Department of Environmental Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China, and College of material Science and Engineering, University of Polytechnology, Tianjin, Tianjin 300191, China
Received for review April 25, 2007
Revised manuscript received January 7, 2008
Accepted January 16, 2008
Abstract:
Nanostructured TiO2 with different hierarchical morphologies were synthesized via a warmly hydrothermal route. The properties of the products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, UV–vis spectroscopy, etc. Two of the products, TiO2 1D nanorods (one-dimensional rutile TiO2 nanorods) and TiO2 3D0D microspheres (three-dimensional anatase TiO2 nanoparticle-assembled microspheres) exhibited superior photocatalytic effects on phenol degradation under UV illumination, compared with TiO2 3D1D microspheres (three-dimensional rutile TiO2 nanorods-assembled microspheres). Moreover, TiO2 3D0D was superior to TiO2 1D, as indicated by a 30% higher mineralization of dissolved phenol. Dihydroxybenze, 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl, benzoquinone, maleic anhydride, etc. were identified as the degradation intermediates. The excellent catalytic effect was attributed to the structural features of TiO2 1D nanorods and TiO2 3D0D microspheres, that is, a larger amount of surface active sites and a higher band gap energy resulted in more efficient decomposition of organic contaminants.
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