The Reductive Dehydration of Cellulose by Solid/Gas Reaction with TiCl4 at Low Temperature: A Cheap,Simple, and Green Process for Preparing Anatase Nanoplates and TiO2/C Composites |
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| Authors: | Sandrine Plumejeau Dr Matthieu Rivallin Prof Stephan Brosillon Prof André Ayral Dr Laurent Heux Prof Bruno Boury |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institut Européen des Membranes UMR 5635, CNRS-ENSCM-UM, CC 047, University of Montpellier, Montpellier Cedex 5, France;2. CERMAV-CNRS, Grenoble Cedex 9, France;3. Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier UMR 5253 CNRS-UM-ENSCM, CMOS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier Cedex 5, France |
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| Abstract: | Metal oxides and metal oxide/carbon composites are entering the development of new technologies and should therefore to be prepared by sustainable chemistry processes. Therefore, a new aspect of the reactivity of cellulose is presented through its solid/gas reaction with vapour of titanium(IV) chloride in anhydrous conditions at low temperature (80 °C). This reaction leads to two transformations both for cellulose and titanium(IV) chloride. A reductive dehydration of cellulose is seen at the lowest temperature ever reported and results in the formation of a carbonaceous fibrous solid as the only carbon‐containing product. Simultaneously, the in situ generation of water leads to the formation of titanium dioxide with an unexpected nanoplate morphology (ca. 50 nm thickness) and a high photocatalytic activity. We present the evidence showing the evolution of the cellulose and the TiO2 nanostructure formation, along with its photocatalytic activity. This low‐temperature process avoids any other reagents and is among the greenest processes for the preparation of anatase and also for TiO2/carbon composites. The anisotropic morphology of TiO2 questions the role of the cellulose on the growing process of these nanoparticles. |
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| Keywords: | carbon cellulose dehydration nanostructures photocatalysis |
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