Web Release Date: February 28,
Tailoring of Phase Composition and Photoresponsive Properties of Ti-Containing Nanocomposites from Layered Precursor
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
Received: November 21, 2007
In Final Form: January 9, 2008
Abstract:
Titanium-containing nanocomposites have been synthesized by calcination of a Ni-Ti layered double hydroxide
as precursor. The nanocomposites were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), high-resolution
transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, and UV-vis
diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS). The transformation of the metastable Ni2TiO4 spinel phase to the stable
NiTiO3 ilmenite phase was observed during the thermal process. The phase transformation at a calcination
temperature below and at 800 
C belongs to the intraparticle reaction, while a phase separation occurs at
900 C. UV-vis DRS indicates that the nanocomposites are not only responsive but also activated in both
the UV- and visible-light regions. Their UV-vis-induced photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the
degradation of methylene blue. The results show that the Ti-containing nanocomposites exhibit good
photocatalytic activity under UV-vis-light irradiation.
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