Stabilization of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles at the Surface of Carbon Nanomaterials Promoted by Microwave Heating

TiO₂ is frequently combined with carbon materials, such as reduced graphene oxide (RGO), to produce composites with improved properties, for example for photocatalytic applications. It is shown that heating conditions significantly affect the interface and photocatalytic properties of TiO₂@C, and that microwave irradiation can be advantageous for the synthesis of carbon‐based materials. Composites of TiO₂ with RGO or amorphous carbon were prepared from reaction of titanium isopropoxide with benzyl alcohol. During the synthesis of the TiO₂ nanoparticles, the carbon is involved in reactions that lead to the covalent attachment of the oxide, the extent of which depends on the carbon characteristics, heating rate, and mechanism. TiO₂ is more efficiently stabilized at the surface of RGO than amorphous carbon. Rapid heating of the reaction mixture results in a stronger coupling between the nanoparticles and carbon, more uniform coatings, and smaller particles with narrower size distributions. The more efficient attachment of the oxide leads to better photocatalytic performance.     

单斜与锐钛矿双晶相TiO2/MWNTs复合材料的制备及其可见光光催化活性

以超强耐酸碱的表面活性剂-丁基封端脂肪醇聚氧乙烯醚作为晶型调节剂,利用钛酸丁酯和氢氧化钠的水热反应制备了单斜相与锐钛矿相双晶相TiO₂/多壁碳纳米管(简称MWNTs)复合材料,并考察了复合材料的可见光光催化活性。结果显示:MWNTs的加入可调控TiO₂的晶相组成,增强TiO₂的光催化活性,其中含5%MWNTs的样品具有较高的催化降解效率;随煅烧温度的升高,样品的光催化活性大幅提升。其机理归因于(1)促进单斜相和锐钛矿相双晶相结构的形成;(2)碳纳米管优良的导电作用及碳纳米管/TiO₂间的异质结效应;(3)高温下碳纳米管分解产生的碳元素掺杂作用。     

单斜与锐钛矿双晶相TiO2/MWNTs复合材料的制备及其可见光光催化活性

以超强耐酸碱的表面活性剂-丁基封端脂肪醇聚氧乙烯醚作为晶型调节剂,利用钛酸丁酯和氢氧化钠的水热反应制备了单斜相与锐钛矿相双晶相TiO2/多壁碳纳米管(简称MWNTs)复合材料,并考察了复合材料的可见光光催化活性。结果显示:MWNTs的加入可调控TiO2的晶相组成,增强TiO2的光催化活性,其中含5%MWNTs的样品具有较高的催化降解效率;随煅烧温度的升高,样品的光催化活性大幅提升。其机理归因于(1)促进单斜相和锐钛矿相双晶相结构的形成;(2)碳纳米管优良的导电作用及碳纳米管/TiO2间的异质结效应;(3)高温下碳纳米管分解产生的碳元素掺杂作用。     

SiO2/TiO2-xCx/C的制备、表征及其吸附和可见光催化性能

以SiO2为成核中心,钛酸四丁酯为钛源,分别以多羟基化合物乙二醇、丙三醇、葡萄糖和聚乙烯醇为联接剂,采用水解沉淀法制备了碳掺杂和包覆的多孔SiO2/TiO2-xCx/C可见光响应型光催化剂。采用X-射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X-射线光电子能谱(XPS)、傅里叶变换-红外光谱(FTIR)、比表面积(BET)和紫外-可见(UV-Vis)漫反射光谱对样品进行表征。对不同结构样品的形成机理进行了分析。以次甲基蓝(MB)溶液为模拟废水,对样品的吸附性能和可见光催化性能进行了评价。结果表明,多羟基化合物对材料的结构和性能有重要影响。碳的掺杂和包覆使材料的吸收光谱包含了整个可见光区,而多孔结构使材料的吸附性能得到提高。以聚乙烯醇为原料所得样品吸附性能最好,30 min内吸附率达到70%;而以丙三醇为原料所得样品具有最好的可见光催化性能,40 min内次甲基蓝的降解率达到95%。     

Microwave-hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic properties of biomass charcoal/TiO2 nanocomposites

Biomass charcoal-doped titanium dioxide (C/TiO₂) composites were proposed by microwave-hydrothermal and calcination method using tetrabutyl titanate as the titanium source and lignin as the carbon source. TiO₂ crystals with different morphologies could be successfully adsorbed onto the surface of biomass charcoal. These products were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), derivative thermogravimetric (DTG), UV–vis diffuser flection spectroscopy (UV–vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The photocatalytic activities of the as-obtained composites were checked under visible light irradiation. The results showed that both the microwave-hydrothermal temperature and time played an important role in the microstructure and photocatalytic activity of the samples. The rapid microwave-hydrothermal with the thermal post-treatment provides a promising route for the fabrication of biomass charcoal-doped nanocomposites materials.     

部分还原氧化石墨烯/二氧化钛复合材料的水热合成及其光催化活性

采用水热法以Hummers氧化法制备的氧化石墨和钛酸四丁酯为原料制备了部分还原的氧化石墨烯/二氧化钛(RGO/TiO₂)复合光催化剂, 并研究了该复合材料在可见光以及紫外光下对亚甲基蓝的光催化降解活性.结果表明, 通过改变反应温度和氧化石墨加入量可以调控TiO₂的晶相组成及其在复合材料中的分散性; 在水热反应过程中氧化石墨烯发生了部分还原; 所制备的RGO/TiO₂复合材料的可见光和紫外光催化活性均高于纯TiO₂; 部分还原的氧化石墨烯在复合材料中担当载体和电子受体, 同时可以使TiO₂的初始吸收边向可见光区域红移, 增强了TiO₂在可见光区域的吸收, 能有效提高对目标污染物的吸附性和光催化降解活性.     

Photocatalytic activity of polyvinyl borate/titanium dioxide composites for UV light degradation of organic pollutants

In this study, it is aimed to prepare polyvinyl borate (PVB)/titanium dioxide (TiO₂) composites through the condensation reaction of polyvinyl alcohol and boric acid in the presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The scope of this study contains the photocatalytic activity of the prepared composites with varying TiO₂ content from 0 to 35 wt.% for the degradation of methylene blue in aqueous medium under UV light irradiation. The structure and morphological properties of the prepared composites were studied with FTIR, TGA, EDX, SEM and TEM analyses. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared samples was analyzed by UV-Vis spectrophotometer measurements. In parallel with TiO₂ content up to 30 wt.%, the photocatalytic activity of PVB/TiO₂ composites was enhanced and the composites exhibited higher discoloration rate of the model dye, methylene blue.     

光驱动多孔无定形TiO2的形成机制与光催化性能的研究

以钛酸正丁醇和乙二醇为原料,采用溶剂热法合成了钛乙二醇盐(TG)前躯体,在高压汞灯照射下制备出无定形TiO2。利用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)、紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-Vis)、表面光电压谱(SPS)、N2吸附-脱附对所得材料进行了结构和性能的表征。借助X射线吸收精细结构(XAFS)对无定形TiO2的形成机制进行了分析,并通过硝基苯的还原反应考察了材料的光催化性能。结果表明:在紫外光驱动无定形TiO2的形成过程中,中心元素Ti4+的配位环境发生变化,由八面体结构转变为四面体结构;由于特殊的孔道结构使得多孔无定形TiO2显示出较好的光催化活性。     

核-壳和中空多面体二氧化钛制备、表征及光催化

本文采用水热法控制制备了具有特殊纳米结构的核-壳和中空多面体二氧化钛, 以进一步提高具有特定暴露面多面体二氧化钛的比表面积, 达到更优异的光催化效果。用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)等技术对所制备特殊结构二氧化钛的物相和微/纳结构进行表征分析, 结果表明所得核-壳和中空结构多面体二氧化钛具有一个类似隧道结构的(001)/(001)洞开的截顶双金字塔型壳层。这两种特殊结构的形成可能是源于配位/弱酸性腐蚀原理的共同作用。用核-壳和中空结构二氧化钛对亚甲基蓝进行光降解实验, 结果表明:所得两种新颖结构二氧化钛的光催化效率得到明显提高, 尤其是在添加过氧化氢条件下。可能原因是:两种特殊结构二氧化钛大比表面积正面作用抵消了(001)晶面消失或减少所产生的副作用, 以及过氧化氢在光催化反应中提供的活性氢氧根自由基使得光辐照二氧化钛产生的电子-空穴对在催化剂表面得到有效分离。     

Large‐Scale Production of Hierarchical TiO2 Nanorod Spheres for Photocatalytic Elimination of Contaminants and Killing Bacteria

We report a facile non‐hydrothermal method for the large‐scale production of hierarchical TiO₂ nanorod spheres for the photocatalytic elimination of contaminants and killing bacteria. Crescent Ti/RF spheres were prepared by deliberately adding titanium trichloride (TiCl₃) to the reaction of resorcinol (R) and formaldehyde (F) in an open reactor under heating and stirring. The hierarchical TiO₂ nanorod spheres were obtained by calcining the crescent Ti/RF spheres in a furnace in air to burn off the RF spheres. This method has many merits, such as large‐scale production, good crystallisation of TiO₂, and good reproducibility, all of which are difficult to realise by conventional hydrothermal methods. The calcination temperature plays a significant role in influencing the morphology, crystallisation, porosity, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area, and hierarchy of the TiO₂ nanorod spheres, thus resulting in different photocatalytic performances under UV light and solar light irradiation. The experimental results have demonstrated that the hierarchical TiO₂ nanorod spheres obtained after calcination of the crescent Ti/RF spheres at different temperatures displayed similar photocatalytic activities under irradiation with UV light. We attribute this to a balance of opposing effects of the investigated factors. A higher calcination temperature leads to greater light absorption capability of the TiO₂ nanorod spheres, thus resulting in higher photocatalytic antibacterial activity under solar light irradiation. It is also interesting to note that the hierarchical TiO₂ nanorod spheres displayed intrinsic antibacterial activity in the absence of light irradiation, apparently because their sharp outward spikes can easily pierce and penetrate the walls of bacteria. In this study, the sharpest hierarchical TiO₂ nanorod spheres were obtained after calcination at 500 °C, and these exhibited the highest antibacterial activity without light irradiation. A higher calcination temperature proved detrimental to the sharpness of the TiO₂ nanorods, thus reducing their intrinsic antibacterial activity.     

Preparation of multisensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/TiO2 composites for degradation of methyl orange

Composites of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have been prepared via UV-initiated free radical polymerization. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to study the composition, structure, and morphology of the as-prepared composites. TiO₂ is found to be successfully encapsulated in the copolymer in spherical shapes with size of 2.5 μm. The thermo- and pH-responsive properties of the composites are observed using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The photocatalytic property of the composites is studied using UV–vis spectrophotometer on the degradation of methyl orange (MO) solution under various pHs and temperatures. Degradation ratio is higher at low pH and increases with increasing temperature above volume phase transition temperature (VPTT).     

Preparation and solar-light photocatalytic activity of TiO2 composites: TiO2/kaolin,TiO2/diatomite,and TiO2/zeolite

Three TiO₂ loaded composites, TiO₂/kaolin, TiO₂/diatomite, and TiO₂/zeolite, were prepared in order to improve the solar-light photocatalytic activity of TiO₂. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity could obviously be enhanced by loading appropriate amount of inorganic mineral materials. Meanwhile, TiO₂ content, heat-treatment temperature and heat-treatment time on the photocatalytic activity were reviewed. Otherwise, the effect of solar light irradiation time and dye concentration on the photocatalytic degradation of Acid Red B was investigated. Furthermore, the degradation mechanism and adsorption process were also discussed.     

Effect of calcination temperature on the photocatalytic activity of carbon‐doped titanium dioxide revealed by photoluminescence study

Carbon‐doped titania (C‐TiO₂) nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol–gel method at different calcination temperatures (300–600°C) employing titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as the titanium source and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) as the carbon source. The physical properties of C‐TiO₂ samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activities were checked through the photodegradation of phenolphthalein (PHP) under ultraviolet irradiation. The UV spectrum showed that the carbon doping extends the absorption range of TiO₂ to the visible region. However, the photocatalytic activity is affected by the electron–hole recombination phenomenon, as revealed by the photoluminescence (PL) study. According to the PL spectra, carbon doping reduces the edge‐to‐edge electron–hole recombination. Nevertheless, the number of defect sites is greatly influenced by the calcination temperature of C‐TiO₂. C‐TiO₂ that was calcined at 400°C showed the highest photodegradation percentage of PHP, which was mainly attributed to the synergic effect of the low direct edge‐to‐edge electron–hole recombination, high content of defect sites, and retention of active electrons on the surface hydroxyl group.     

TiO2/EDTA-rich carbon composites: Synthesis,characterization and visible-light-driven photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI)

TiO₂/EDTA-rich carbon composites exhibits excellent photoreduction of Cr(VI) activity via ligand-to-metal charge transfer process.     

非共价修饰碳纳米管/二氧化钛复合材料的合成及性能

采用溶胶-凝胶法在聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)非共价修饰的碳纳米管表面均匀沉积二氧化钛粒子制得纳米复合材料。用TEM、XRD、FTIR、N2吸脱附等对复合材料进行了表征。结果表明:纳米二氧化钛纳米粒子均匀沉积在被修饰碳纳米管表面,且二氧化钛为纯锐钛矿晶体结构,没有金红石和板钛矿相。非共价修饰碳纳米管/二氧化钛复合材料具有良好的介孔结构,其孔径分布主要集中在6～10 nm,且比表面积与纯的二氧化钛相比明显增大,在紫外光照射下降解亚甲基蓝,相比纯的二氧化钛和碳纳米管/二氧化钛,具有较高的催化活性。     

金红石相TiO2-石墨烯复合材料的制备及其光催化性能

以鳞片石墨为原料, 用改进的Hummers法制备氧化石墨烯(GO), 以异丙醇钛为钛源经一步水热法制备得到金红石相TiO₂-石墨烯复合材料(rGO-TiO₂), 考察了氧化石墨烯用量对复合材料光催化性能的影响. 采用X射线衍射(XRD), 比表面积(BET), 透射电镜(TEM), 扫描电镜(SEM), 拉曼光谱, 紫外-可见(UV-Vis)吸收光谱和荧光光谱(PL)等测试手段对复合材料进行表征. 结果表明: 复合材料中TiO₂为针簇状结构的金红石相, 与石墨烯能够均匀复合; 与纯金红石相TiO₂相比, 复合材料具有较大的比表面积. 研究了该复合材料在紫外光下对罗丹明B 以及可见光下对甲基橙光降解效果. 当氧化石墨烯浓度为0.5 mg·mL^-1时, 制备得到的复合材料rGO-TiO₂具有较好的光催化效果.     

TiO2-石墨烯光催化剂：制备及引入石墨烯的方法对光催化性能的影响

利用溶胶-凝胶法原位制备了二氧化钛/石墨烯(TiO2-GE)复合光催化剂,研究了纯TiO2以及不同方法制备的TiO2-GE复合光催化剂对亚甲基蓝及罗丹明B光催化降解性能。结果表明:石墨烯的引入提高了TiO2的光催活性,这主要是得益于石墨烯优异的电子传输性能及较好吸附特性。不同方法制备TiO2-GE复合催化剂的光催化活性也存在较大差别。原位制备的TiO2-GE复合光催化剂表现出最佳的光催化活性。     

Chemoselective reduction of nitrobenzenes having other reducible groups over titanium(IV) oxide photocatalyst under protection-, gas-, and metal-free conditions

m-Nitrostyrene was chemoselectively reduced to m-aminostyrene in an acetonitrile suspension containing a titanium(IV) oxide (TiO₂) photocatalyst and a suitable hole scavenger at room temperature under atmospheric pressure without the use of a precious metal or reducing gas. Addition of a small amount of water to acetonitrile increased the reaction rate, and the highest rate was obtained. Moreover, applicability of the photocatalytic system was investigated using various nitro compounds having other reducible groups (chloro, bromo, carboxyl, and acetyl groups), and only the nitro group of these compounds was chemoselectively reduced, resulting in the formation of corresponding amino compounds with high yields.     

Photocatalytic activity of polyaniline/Fe-doped TiO2 composites by in situ polymerization method

This study was focused on the photocatalytic activity of polyaniline (Pani)/iron doped titanium dioxide (Fe–TiO₂) composites for the degradation of methylene blue as a model dye. TiO₂ nanoparticles were doped with iron ions (Fe) using the wet impregnation method and the doped nanoparticles were further combined with Pani via an in situ polymerization method. For comparison purposes, Pani composites were also synthesized in the presence undoped TiO₂. The photocatalyst and the composites were characterized by standard analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX and UV–Vis spectroscopies. Fe–TiO₂ and its composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet light irradiation. Improved photocatalytic activity of Fe–TiO₂ was attributed to the dopant Fe ions hindering the recombination of the photoinduced charge carriers. Pani/Fe–TiO₂ composite with 30?wt.% of TiO₂ nanoparticles achieved 28% dye removal and the discoloration rate of methylene blue for the sample was 0.0025?min^?1. FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX and UV–Vis spectroscopies supported the idea that Fe ions integrated into TiO₂ crystal structure and Pani composites were successfully synthesized in the presence of the photocatalyst nanoparticles. The novelty of this study was to investigate the photocatalytic activity of Pani composites, containing iron doped TiO₂ and to compare their results with that of Pani/TiO₂.     

Doping of TiO2–GO and TiO2–rGO with Noble Metals: Synthesis,Characterization and Photocatalytic Performance for Azo Dye Discoloration

The nanocomposites of titania coupled with graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), respectively, were prepared by homogeneous hydrolysis with urea. Graphene was obtained by effect of high‐intensity cavitation field on natural graphite in the presence of strong aprotic solvents in pressurized ultrasonic reactor. The morphology of TiO₂–GO and TiO₂–rGO composites was assessed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The nitrogen adsorption–desorption was used for determination of surface area (BET) and porosity. Raman and IR spectroscopy were used for qualitative analysis and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was employed to estimate band‐gap energies. Further enhancement of the photocatalytic activity was attained by codoping of composites with noble metals—Au, Pd and Pt. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂–GO and TiO₂–rGO were assessed by photocatalytic decomposition of Orange II dye in an aqueous slurry under UV and visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of noble metals codoped samples was determined with decomposition of Reactive Black 5 azo dye.