Facile sonochemical synthesis of rutile-type titanium dioxide microspheres decorated graphene oxide composite for efficient electrochemical sensor

In this reports the facile and green synthesis of rutile-type titanium dioxide nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide nanocomposite via the ultrasonication process (frequency: 50 kHz, Power: 100 W/cm² and Ultrasonic type: Ti-horn). Because, the sonochemical synthesis method is simple, non-explosive and harmless method than other conventional technique. Furthermore, the synthesized material was characterized by various analytical techniques including FESEM, EDX, XRD, EIS and electrochemical methods. Then, the synthesized TiO₂ MPs@GOS composite was applied for the electrocatalytic detection of theophylline (TPL) using CV and amperometric (current-time) techniques. Captivatingly, the modified sensor has excellent electrocatalytic performance with the wider linear range from 0.02 to 209.6 µM towards the determination of theophylline and the LOD and sensitivity of the modified sensor was calculated as 13.26 nM and 1.183 μA·µM⁻¹·cm⁻², respectively. In addition, a selectivity, reproducibility and stability of the TiO₂ MPs@GOS modified GCE were analyzed towards the determination of theophylline molecule. Finally, the real time application of TiO₂ MPs@GOS modified theophylline sensor was established in serum and drug samples.     

Synthesis and characterization of TiO2 thin films coated on metal substrate

Nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films have been prepared on metal substrates using a facile layer-by-layer dip-coating method. The phase structure and morphologies of preparing samples were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results confirm that films are highly crystalline anatase TiO₂ and free from other phases of titanium dioxide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the nanoparticles are sintered together to form a compact structure. The electrical properties of samples were investigated by cutternt-voltage analysis, the result indicates that a rectifying junction between the nanocrystalline TiO₂ film and metal substrate was formed. The photoelectrochemical characteristics recorded under 1.5 AM illumination indicates that the as-fabricated thin film electrode possesses the highest photocurrent density at 450 °C, which is 1.75 mA/cm² at 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl.     

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO2 nanowires by substituting noble metal particles with reduced graphene oxide

Noble metal particles have been embedded in semiconductors to improve photocatalysis efficiently, but the high cost made this approach difficult to apply widely in industry. Herein titanium dioxide/reduced graphene oxide (TiO₂/rGO) nanowires in a core-shell structure were prepared. The physicochemical properties and photocatalytic performance of the specimen were characterized in comparison with TiO₂ and TiO₂/Pt nanowires. The rGO layer and Pt nanoparticles increased chemical states of the components, reduced bandgap energy of the nanowires, enhanced visible light absorption, improved conductance and capacitance significantly. The methylene blue as catalyzed by TiO₂/Pt and TiO₂/rGO nanowires was degraded to 7.9% and 8.4% in an hour, but retained 25.7% by the TiO₂ nanowires. The properties and function of TiO₂/rGO nanowires were close to those of TiO₂/Pt nanowires, while the rGO price was much lower than that of Pt, which was of great significance for the photocatalytic application of TiO₂ heterojunction materials in industry.     

Raman evidence of the interaction between multiwalled carbon nanotubes and nanostructured TiO2

Nanocomposites of carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have attracted much attention due to their photocatalytic properties. Although many examples in the literature have visualized these nanocomposites by electron microscopic images, spectroscopic characterization is still lacking with regard to the interaction between the carbon nanotube and TiO₂. In this work, we show evidence of the attachment of nanostructured TiO₂ to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by Raman spectroscopy. The nanostructured TiO₂ was characterized by both full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) and the Raman shift of the TiO₂ band at ca 144 cm⁻¹, whereas the average diameter of the crystallite was estimated as approximately 7 nm. Comparison of the Raman spectra of the MWNTs and MWNTs/TiO₂ shows a clear inversion of the relative intensities of the G and D bands, suggesting a substantial chemical modification of the outermost tubes due to the attachment of nanostructured TiO₂. To complement the nanocomposite characterization, scanning electronic microscopy and X‐ray diffraction were performed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photocatalytic activity of nanostructured TiO2 films produced by supersonic cluster beam deposition

The photocatalytic activity of thin, nanostructured films of titanium dioxide, synthesized by supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD) from the gas phase, has been investigated employing the photodegradation of salicylic acid as test reaction. Because of the low deposition energy, the so-deposited highly porous TiO₂ films are composed of nanoparticles maintaining their original properties in the film, which can be fully controlled by tuning the deposition and post-deposition treatment conditions. A systematic investigation on the evolution of light absorption properties and photoactivity of the films in relation to their morphology, determined by AFM analysis, and phase composition, determined by Raman spectroscopy, has been performed. The absorption and photocatalytic activity of the nanostructured films in the visible region could be enhanced either through post-deposition annealing treatment in ammonia containing atmosphere or employing mild oxidation conditions, followed by annealing in N₂ at 600 °C.     

Effect of Particle Size and Phase Composition of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on the Photocatalytic Properties

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles were prepared by the oxidation of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) in a diffusion flame reactor. The average diameter of particles was 15–30 nm and mass fraction of anatase ranged from 40% to 80%. Effects of particle size and phase composition of those TiO₂ nanoparticles on photocatalytic properties such as decomposition of methylene blue, bacteria and ammonia gas were investigated. The degree of decomposition of methylene blue by the TiO₂ nanoparticles under the illumination of the black light was directly proportional to the anatase mass fraction, but inversely to the particle size. The decomposition of bacteria and ammonia gas by the TiO₂ nanoparticles under the illumination of the fluorescent light showed the same trend as in the case of the methylene blue.     

Improving the electrical catalytic activity of Pt/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocomposites by a combination of electrospinning and microwave irradiation

One of the greatest challenges in preparing TiO₂-based oxygen electrodes for PEM fuel cells is increasing the electrical catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticle/TiO₂ composites by improving the dispersion of Pt. This article describes a new way for improving the dispersion of Pt nanoparticles by depositing them on TiO₂ fibers and using microwave irradiation. The Pt nanoparticles used in this experiment is about 5 nm in diameter and the diameter of TiO₂ fibers could be controlled ranging from 30 to 60 nm and Pt nanoparticles still keep their size when the deposition amount is increased on the surface of TiO₂ fibers. The Pt nanoparticles were highly dispersed without agglomeration even at a weight percentage of composites as high as 40%. The position of Pt nanoparticles located in the fiber and the composition of Pt/TiO₂, which had great influence on the electric conductivity and electrical catalytic activity of the composite, could be easily controlled.     

Synthesis, characterization and application of iodine modified titanium dioxide in phototcatalytical reactions under visible light irradiation

Iodine doped titanium dioxide has been successfully prepared by simple hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate in the presence of iodic acid. The adopted method allowed for the production of spherical iodine doped titaniun dioxide nanoparticles with varied amount of iodine content. Analysis by X-ray diffraction, Raman, transmission electron microscopy as well as UV-vis DRS revealed that titanium dioxide nanostructures were doped with iodine which existed in two different valence states I⁵⁺ and I⁻. The iodine in the form of I⁵⁺ is believed to have doped into the lattice whereas I⁻ was well dispersed on the surface of TiO₂ probably as iodine adducts hence rendering it to be highly absorbing in visible light region. The I-TiO₂ exhibited improved photocatalytic activity toward degradation of acid orange 7 (AO7), methyl orange (MO) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) under visible light over the pristine TiO₂ prepared by the same method. High catalytic properties are attributed to iodine doping which led to high specific surface area, absorption in visible region as well as alleviation of charge carrier recombination. The most probable route undertaken in the degradation of AO7 is through indirect oxidation by the hydroxyl radicals.     

TiO<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanoparticles synthesized using He/Ar thermal plasma and their effectiveness on low-concentration mercury vapor removal

Oxygen-vacant titanium dioxide (TiO_2−x ) nanoparticles were synthesized using thermal plasma as a heating source at various applied plasma currents and He/Ar ratios. Samples with diverse characteristics were developed and the mercury removal effectiveness was subsequently evaluated. TiO₂ nanoparticles possessing high purity and uniform particle sizes were successfully synthesized using metal titanium and O₂ as precursors and Ar as plasma gas. TiO_2−x in anatase phase with a particle size at 5–10 nm was formed at the He/Ar volume ratio of 25/75. Further increasing the He/Ar ratio elevated the plasma temperature, causing the tungsten to melt, vaporize from the cathode, and then dope into the formed TiO₂ nanoparticles. The doped W appeared to inhibit the growth of nanoparticles and decrease the crystallinity of formed anatase. The effectiveness of oxygen-vacant sites on Hg⁰ removal under the visible light circumstance was confirmed. Hg⁰ removal by the TiO_2−x nanoparticles was enhanced by increasing the O₂ concentration. However, moisture reduced Hg⁰ capture, especially when light irradiation was applied. The reduction in Hg⁰ capture may be resulted from the competitive adsorption of H₂O on the active sites of TiO_2−x with Hg⁰ and transformed Hg²⁺.     

Immobilized TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles produced by flame spray for photocatalytic water remediation

Anatase/rutile mixed-phase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalysts in the form of nanostructured powders with different primary particle size, specific surface area, and rutile content were produced from the gas-phase by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) starting from an organic solution containing titanium (IV) isopropoxide as Ti precursor. Flame spray-produced TiO₂ powders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and BET measurements. As-prepared powders were mainly composed of anatase crystallites with size ranging from 7 to 15 nm according to the synthesis conditions. TiO₂ powders were embedded in a multilayered fluoropolymeric matrix to immobilize the nanoparticles into freestanding photocatalytic membranes. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO₂-embedded membranes toward the abatement of hydrosoluble organic pollutants was evaluated employing the photodegradation of rhodamine B in aqueous solution as test reaction. The photoabatement rate of best performing membranes significantly overcomes that of membranes produced by the same method and incorporating commercial P25-TiO₂.