Synthesis of Uniform Layered Protonated Titanate Hierarchical Spheres and Their Transformation to Anatase TiO2 for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Layered protonated titanates (LPTs), a class of interesting inorganic layered materials, have been widely studied because of their many unique properties and their use as precursors to many important TiO₂‐based functional materials. In this work, we have developed a facile solvothermal method to synthesize hierarchical spheres (HSs) assembled from ultrathin LPT nanosheets. These LPT hierarchical spheres possess a porous structure with a large specific surface area and high stability. Importantly, the size and morphology of the LPT hierarchical spheres are easily tunable by varying the synthesis conditions. These LPT HSs can be easily converted to anatase TiO₂ HSs without significant structural alteration. Depending on the calcination atmosphere of air or N₂, pure anatase TiO₂ HSs or carbon‐supported TiO₂ HSs, respectively, can be obtained. Remarkably, both types of TiO₂ HSs manifest excellent cyclability and rate capability when evaluated as anode materials for high‐power lithium‐ion batteries.     

Hierarchical TiO2 microspheres: synergetic effect of {001} and {101} facets for enhanced photocatalytic activity

Well-faceted nanocrystals of anatase TiO(2) with specific reactive facets have attracted extraordinary research interest due to their many intrinsic shape-dependent properties. In this work, hierarchical TiO(2) microspheres consisting of anatase nanosheets or decahedrons were synthesized by means of a facile hydrothermal technique; meanwhile, the percentage of {001} facets can be tuned from 82 to 45%. Importantly, by investigating the photo-oxidation reactions for ˙OH radical generation and photoreduction reactions for hydrogen evolution, the TiO(2) microspheres consisting of nano-decahedrons with 45% {001} facets show superior photoreactivity (more than 4.8-times) compared to the nanosheets with 82% {001} facets. By analyzing the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) and first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a model of charge separation between the well-formed {001} and {101} facets is proposed, and the enhanced photocatalytic efficiency is largely attributed to the efficient separation of photogenerated charges among the crystal facets co-exposed.     

电泳法制备具有{001}面TiO2纳米片分级球散射层的染敏太阳电池光电极

利用简便的溶剂热法,制得了由锐钛矿相的纳米片组成的、{001}面接近100%暴露的TiO2分级球形结构。利用电泳沉积法,将所得的TiO2分级球形结构作为散射层引入到染料敏化太阳电池(DSSC)中,并很好地保护了这种脆弱的分级结构。由于这种分级球形结构比TiO2纳米颗粒具有更好的染料吸附性能和光散射性能,使用这种TiO2分级球形结构作为散射层的DSSC达到了7.38%的光电转换效率,较之基于TiO2纳米颗粒的DSSC有了26%的提高。     

Mesoporous TiO2 core-shell spheres composed of nanocrystals with exposed high-energy facets: facile synthesis and formation mechanism

A facile new method that combines electrospray and hydrothermal treatment is used to prepare mesoporous core-shell TiO(2) spheres with high specific surface areas and high pore volumes. Interestingly, the resulting TiO(2) spheres are composed of anatase TiO(2) nanocrystals with exposed step-like {001} and smooth {010} facets. The percentage of exposed {001} facets can be adjusted by changing the experimental parameters used in the electrospray and hydrothermal treatment processes, such as the contents of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) and acetic acid. The combination of high specific surface area (>100 m(2) g(-1)), high pore volume (>0.30 cm(3) g(-1)), useful pore size (10-15 nm), spherical core-shell structure, and exposed high energy facets makes these TiO(2) spheres an important candidate for use in many photoelectrochemical applications. The formation mechanism of the mesoporous TiO(2) spheres is also studied. The great advantage of this method is that interesting and complicated mesoporous superstructures can be prepared using electrospray technology.     

Synthesis and growth mechanism of titanate and titania one-dimensional nanostructures self-assembled into hollow micrometer-scale spherical aggregates

Three-dimensional, dendritic micrometer-scale spheres of alkali metal hydrogen titanate 1D nanostructures (i.e., nanowires and nanotubes) have been generated using a modified hydrothermal technique in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and an alkali metal hydroxide solution. Sea-urchin-like assemblies of these 1D nanostructures have been transformed into their hydrogen titanate analogues (lepidocrocite HxTi2-x/4squarex/4O4 (x approximately 0.7, square: vacancy)) by neutralization as well as into their corresponding anatase TiO2 nanostructured counterparts through a moderate high-temperature annealing dehydration process without destroying the 3D hierarchical structural motif. The as-prepared hollow spheres of titanate and titania 1D nanostructures have overall diameters, ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 microm, while the interior of these aggregates are vacuous with a diameter range of 100 to 200 nm. The constituent, component titanate and TiO2 1D nanostructures have a diameter range of 7+/-2 nm and lengths of up to several hundred nanometers. A proposed two-stage growth mechanism of these hollow micrometer-scale spheres was supported by time-dependent scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry data. We have also demonstrated that these assemblies are active photocatalysts for the degradation of synthetic Procion Red dye under UV light illumination.     

一种室温下制备多孔锐钛矿型TiO2薄膜的方法

 采用具有锐钛矿晶粒的TiO2溶胶与聚苯乙烯球形粒子混合制得涂膜液,通过浸渍提拉法制备薄膜,然后在超声波振荡条件下,以甲苯为溶剂,将薄膜中的聚苯乙烯球选择性地溶解去除,在室温下获得了锐钛矿型多孔TiO2薄膜. 与致密的TiO2薄膜相比,该多孔TiO2薄膜具有较高的光催化活性. 该方法有以下两方面的优点: 一是实现了多孔TiO2薄膜的室温制备,增大了薄膜基材的选择范围; 二是可以通过添加不同粒径的聚苯乙烯球,较为方便地实现了对薄膜孔径的调节.     

A novel photoanode architecture of dye-sensitized solar cells based on TiO2 hollow sphere/nanorod array double-layer film

A novel TiO(2) double-layer (DL) film consisting of TiO(2) hollow spheres (HSs) as overlayer and single-crystalline TiO(2) nanorod arrays (RAs) as underlayer was designed as the photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This new-typed TiO(2) HS/RA DL film could significantly improve the efficiency of DSSCs owing to its synergic effects, i.e. the relatively large specific surface area of TiO(2) HSs for effective dye adsorption, enhanced light harvesting capability originated from TiO(2) RA film, and rapid interfacial electron transport in one-dimensional TiO(2) nanorod arrays. The overall energy-conversion efficiency of 4.57% was achieved by the formation of TiO(2) DL film, which is 16% higher than that formed by TiO(2) HS film and far larger than that formed by TiO(2) RA film (η=0.99%). The light absorption and interfacial electron transport, which play important roles in the efficiency of DSSCs, were investigated by UV-vis absorption spectra and electrochemical impedance spectra.     

Facile synthesis of nanoporous anatase spheres and their environmental applications

Highly nanoporous TiO(2) (anatase) spheres with an excellent ability in environmental applications have been successfully prepared via in situ hydrolysis of titanium glycolate precursor spheres.     

Synthesis of hierarchically mesoporous anatase spheres and their application in lithium batteries

Hierarchically mesoporous TiO2 (anatase) sub-micron spheres with uniform particle size exhibiting high Li storage capacity and good cycling performance have been successfully prepared in a large quantity by using TiO2-CdSO4 composite as intermediate.     

Microwave-solvothermal synthesis of various polymorphs of nanostructured TiO2 in different alcohol media and their lithium ion storage properties

The various polymorphs (anatase, rutile, and brookite) of TiO(2) with different nanomorphologies have been synthesized by a facile microwave-assisted solvothermal process without surfactants, employing TiCl(4) or TiCl(3) as precursors in various alcohol (ethanol, propanol, butanol, and octanol) media. The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The Ti/Cl ion concentration, reaction pH, and size of the alcohol molecule are found to control the morphology, crystal structure, and crystallite size of the TiO(2) particles. Among the various TiO(2) polymorphs synthesized, the rutile TiO(2) spheres built up of nanorods that were synthesized with TiCl(4) in octanol have an average pore size and surface area of, respectively, 5 nm and 404 m(2)/g and exhibit the best electrochemical performance with a capacity of >200 mAh/g after 100 cycles and high rate capability. The excellent electrochemical properties originate from the nanorod-building morphology and mesoporosity of TiO(2) spheres that provide good electrical contact, accommodates the strain smoothly, and facilitates facile lithium-ion diffusion.     

TiO2纳米片/巢状分级结构纳米阵列薄膜的制备及其在染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用

采用水热合成法在氟掺杂二氧化锡(FTO)导电玻璃基底上得到TiO2纳米阵列薄膜,并进一步通过NaOH溶液水热处理制备了由巢状纳米阵列及纳米片覆盖层构成的TiO2纳米阵列分级结构一体化薄膜.采用场发射扫描电镜(FE-SEM),X射线衍射(XRD),紫外-可见(UV-Vis)漫反射光谱和吸收光谱技术对TiO2薄膜的结构和性质进行表征.FE-SEM结果表明:分级结构TiO2薄膜膜厚为1.5μm,薄膜由一层纳米片覆盖层(约0.2μm高)和一层巢状纳米阵列层(约1.3μm高)组成.XRD谱图表明TiO2薄膜为锐钛矿相.UV-Vis光谱显示分级结构TiO2薄膜具有较强的光捕获能力和染料吸附能力.TiO2纳米片/巢状分级结构纳米阵列薄膜作为光阳极,可有效地提高染料敏化太阳能电池的光电转换效率,其短路电流(Jsc)为7.79mA·cm-2,开路电压(Voc)为0.80V,填充因子(FF)为0.40,光电转换效率(η)为2.48%,其光电转换效率较TiO2纳米阵列薄膜提高了近10倍.     

Fluorine ions-mediated morphology control of anatase TiO2 with enhanced photocatalytic activity

This review briefly summarizes recent advances in fluorine ions-mediated morphology control of anatase TiO(2) in the forms of nanotube arrays, nanosheets with high-energy facets, and hollow spheres. The correlations between the enhanced photocatalytic activity and structural and morphological modifications of anatase TiO(2) by fluorine ions are addressed.     

孔径可控的介孔TiO2纳米球的溶剂热合成

以具有微孔结构的乙二醇钛(TG)为前驱体, 采用无模板法制备了一系列单分散的介孔TiO2纳米球. 通过溶剂热处理, 微孔前驱体TG原位水解直接转化为具有介孔结构的TiO2纳米球. 通过X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)及氮气吸附-脱附等对产物进行了表征. 测试结果表明, 产物具有高结晶性、均一的形貌、可调的孔径和比表面积.     

TiO2/SnO2复合空心球在染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用

采用模板辅助法制备了SnO2/TiO2复合空心球,样品直径为1.5~4.0μm,比表面积达到了92.9 m^2·g^-1,复合空心球表现出优越的光散射性能.以这种复合空心球作为染料敏化太阳能电池的光阳极,电池的光电转换效率可达到7.72%,高于SnO2微米球(2.70%)和TiO2微米球(6.26%).此外,以锐钛矿型TiO2纳米晶作为底层,SnO2/TiO2复合空心球作为光散射层制备的双层结构光阳极,电池光电转换效率进一步提升至8.43%.     

TiO2 and SnO2@TiO2 hollow spheres assembled from anatase TiO2 nanosheets with enhanced lithium storage properties

TiO(2) and SnO(2)@TiO(2) hollow spheres assembled from anatase TiO(2) nanosheets with exposed (001) high-energy facets are constructed via a templating approach, and the as-prepared samples exhibit enhanced lithium storage properties.     

Hierarchical TiO(2) flowers built from TiO(2) nanotubes for efficient Pt-free based flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel hierarchical TiO(2) flower consisting of anatase TiO(2) nanotubes on a Ti foil substrate has been prepared via a mild hydrothermal reaction of TiO(2) nanoparticles/Ti foil. The photovoltaic performance of DSSC based on hierarchical TiO(2) flowers/Ti (7.2%) is much higher than that of TiO(2) nanoparticle/Ti (6.63%) because of its superior light scattering ability and fast electron transport. Moreover, full flexible DSSC based on the novel hierarchical TiO(2) flowers/Ti foil photoelectrode and electrodeposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on indium tin oxide-coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (ITO-PET) counter electrode shows a significant power conversion efficiency of 6.26%, accompanying a short-circuit current density of 11.96 mA cm(-2), an open-circuit voltage of 761 mV and a fill factor of 0.69.     

中空TiO_2微球的制备及对聚丙烯酸酯薄膜性能的影响

采用阳离子聚苯乙烯微球作为模板,钛酸四丁酯为钛源,氨水为催化剂,制备了中空TiO_2微球.采用X射线衍射、扫描电镜及比表面测定仪对其形貌和结构进行了表征,并考察了模板粒径、钛源用量以及催化剂用量对中空TiO_2微球形貌的影响.通过物理共混法将其引入至聚丙烯酸酯乳液中并成膜,研究了复合薄膜的保温性能、抗紫外性能及力学性能.结果表明,锐钛矿相中空TiO_2微球模板粒径、钛源用量以及催化剂用量影响中空TiO_2微球的空心尺寸、壁厚及壳层致密性.中空TiO_2微球可显著提升聚丙烯酸酯薄膜的保温性能、抗紫外性能和力学性能.采用不同粒径的模板制备的中空TiO_2微球对复合薄膜的各项性能均有影响,其中模板粒径为140 nm时复合薄膜性能最优,光反射率提升63%,导热系数降低27%,且在波长小于360 nm范围内,紫外透过率几乎为0,抗张强度增加100%,断裂伸长率提升62%.     

硅球多层模板溶胶浸渍法制备有序多孔TiO2薄膜

采用垂直沉积法组装了平均球径为188 nm的三维有序二氧化硅微球阵列。以该阵列为模板，通过在TiO₂前驱体溶胶中多次浸渍热处理循环，随后采用超声辅助的NaOH溶液腐蚀去除硅球模板，制备了>20层厚的反转结构的二氧化钛多孔膜。该二氧化钛薄膜在550 ℃下热处理20 h其多孔结构保持不变，表明采用此方法制备的二氧化钛多孔膜具有较好的热稳定性。X射线衍射图表明550 ℃下热处理得到的是具有锐钛矿结构的二氧化钛多孔膜。透光光谱显示了光子带隙出现在～400 nm。通过SEM观察，二氧化钛多孔膜     

Synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of well-defined N-doped, hollow silica/titania hybrid microspheres

Well-defined nitrogen-doped, hollow SiO2/TiO2 hybrid spheres were successfully prepared through a two-step sol-gel synthesis combined calcination process using triethylamine as the nitrogen source. In this approach, polystyrene (PS)/silica microspheres were first synthesized. Subsequently, the amine-treated PS/SiO2/TiO2 hybrid spheres were obtained by sol-gel method. Finally, the elimination of the PS core, nitrogen-doping process, and crystallization of amorphous TiO2 were simultaneously conducted in the calcination process to acquire the final products. The as-prepared hybrid spheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results of XRD, FTIR, and XPS spectra indicated that nitrogen was really doped into the anatase TiO2 shell and confirmed that most nitrogen dopants might be present in the chemical environments of N-Ti-O and Ti-N-O. It was found that the absorption shoulder of nitrogen-doped hollow SiO2/TiO2 hybrid spheres vastly shifted to the visible region up to around 530 nm. The photoluminescence (PL) bands showed spectral lines at about 421, 472, and 529 nm, which were attributed to the self-trapped excitons, F and F+ centers. Moreover, the intensity of the PL spectra band of hollow SiO2/TiO2 hybrid spheres increased with as the amount of titanium tetrabutoxide (TBOT) precursor increased. However, the doping of nitrogen into hollow SiO2/TiO2 hybrid spheres led to the drastic quenching of photoluminescence because of the increase in the separation efficiency of the photoinduced electron and hole pairs.     

Hexagonal-close-packed, hierarchical amorphous TiO2 nanocolumn arrays: transferability, enhanced photocatalytic activity, and superamphiphilicity without UV irradiation

A hexagonal-close-packed (hcp), hierarchical amorphous TiO2 nanocolumn array was fabricated by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) using a PS colloidal monolayer as a template under a high pressure (6.7 Pa) of background oxygen gas. The formation mechanism was investigated, and a model of multidirection glancing deposition was proposed to explain the formation process. This strategy can be extended to the fabrication of similar structures using different materials. Interestingly, this nanostructured array could be transferred to almost any substrate, avoiding restriction of substrate types in fabrication of nanocolumn arrays, which is helpful in the design and creation of nanodevices on various desired substrates. This hierarchical nanocolumn array exhibits excellent superamphiphilicity with both water and oil contact angles of 0 degrees, without further UV irradiation. More importantly, the amorphous TiO2 nanocolumn array demonstrates better performance in photocatalytic activity than an anatase nanocolumn array due to its large surface area and special microstructures, suggesting that the surface area of the TiO2 is preferable to its crystal structure for enhancing photocatalytic activity. The combination of superamphiphilicity and photocatalytic activity gives the surface an excellent self-cleaning effect.