Thermal stability and structural deformation of rutile SnO2 nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of rutile SnO₂ were synthesized by precipitation at room temperature. Samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermoanalysis and nitrogen physisorption by BET method. The rutile crystalline structure was refined by Rietveld method. Crystallites had spherical morphology with crystallite sizes growing with the annealing temperature. The spherical crystallites aggregate to form grains composed of a number of crystallites defining the specific surface area and porosity. The crystallites contained hydroxyls in their structure and on their surface generating considerable amount of tin vacancy sites in the structure. These hydroxyls modify the Sn-O bonds, increase the lattice parameters and produce asymmetry in the representative rutile tin-oxygen octahedron. As the dehydroxylation was done with the annealing temperature, the atomic bond length between the oxygen atoms shared by adjacent octahedra decreased, contracting the lattice and increasing the symmetry.     

二氧化钛与针铁矿复合光催化材料的制备与光催化性能

以四氯化钛为钛源,针铁矿(α-FeOOH)为载体,采用水解沉淀法制备了金红石相二氧化钛(Ti₂O)与α-FeOOH的复合光催化材料,并采用X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X射线能量散射谱和X射线光电子能谱对样品进行了表征.结果表明,低温下,金红石相Ti₂O包覆于α-FeOOH表面,并形成复合结构;较高温下,铁离子进入金红石相Ti₂O晶格,并形成铁掺杂金红石相Ti₂O纳米管;中温下,样品兼有复合和掺杂两者特征.在室温下以甲基橙为降解对象,采用钨灯+氘灯(波长200~800nm)为光源,对样品的光催化活性进行了测试.结果表明,样品对甲基橙的光催化降解效果良好;与纯α-FeOOH和金红石相Ti₂O相比,不同结构样品的光催化活性均有所提高,其中,复合兼掺杂型样品的光催化活性最高.由此可见,与α-FeOOH复合和铁掺杂是提高Ti₂O光催化活性的有效途径.     

95 ℃水溶液体系中TiCl4溶胶水解法制备纯金红石纳米粉体(英)

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles of rutile phase were synthesized by hydrolysis of TiCl₄ at 95 ℃ in aqueous solution. The samples as prepared and calcined at 500 ℃ were characterized by XRD, TG-DTA and TEM. The sample as prepared was of imperfect rutile structure, and its morphology was rod-like with a diameter of 10～20 nm, a length of 20～80 nm and an aspect ratio of 2～4. The structure of the sample calcined at 500 ℃ was a perfect rutile one, and its morphology was rod-like with a diameter of 15～25 nm, a length of 25～105 nm and an aspect ratio of 2～4. These results indicate that calcination temperature has a positive effect on the structure and the size of rutile nanocrystals, and has no effect on the aspect ratio of rutile nanocrystal. A model for the formation mechnism of rutile nanocrystal in aqueous solution under hydrolysis conditions has been proposed.     

Reaction of strontium sulfate with anatase and rutile below and above the phase transition temperature of strontium sulfate

The solid-state reaction of strontium sulfate with anatase and rutile was examined by isothermal and non-isothermal TGA/DTA and X-ray diffraction. The endothermic peak due to the reversible phase transition of SrSO₄ was observed by DTA in the vicinity of the endothermic peak due to the reaction. The product was only SrTiO₃ in all cases. The reaction mechanism was described by the Jander model. The rate constant for anatase was about twice as large as that for rutile. The relation between In k_j and T⁻¹ for anatase and rutile was discontinuous being linear either side of the phase transition temperature of SrSO₄. The rate constant just above the transition temperature was enhanced 1.5 times with respect to that just below the temperature. The activation energy for the reaction of strontium sulfate with rutile was 354 and 435 kJ mol⁻¹ in the higher and lower temperature regions respectively. In the reaction with anatase, the phase transition of anatase to rutile was also observed in about 30% of the fraction reacted at any temperature, and the rate constant was scattered from the In k_j vs. T⁻¹ curve, especially at high temperatures.     

Direct Observation of Ethanol Photocatalysis on Rutile TiO2(110) Surface

Photocatalytic dissociation of ethanol molecules on the rutile TiO₂(110) surface after UV irradiation has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscope at 80 K. Most of the ethanol molecules adsorb molecularly at Ti sites, similar to the case of methanol. After UV irradiation, two different protrusions of products were observed, one of them has been identified by the technique of tip manipulation, which was likely composed of an acetaldehyde in the middle and two bridge-bonded hydroxyls on both neighbored oxygen sites. Multi-time irradiation experiments have also been performed to further understand the relationship between the two protrusions and the process of ethanol photocatalytic dissociation. These results provide detailed insights into the photocatalysis of ethanol on rutile TiO₂(110), which would help us to understand how phtotocatalytic reactions of ethnaol proceed at the fundamental level.     

Modeling the interaction between integrin-binding peptide (RGD) and rutile surface: the effect of cation mediation on Asp adsorption

The binding of a negatively charged residue, aspartic acid (Asp) in tripeptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid, onto a negatively charged hydroxylated rutile (110) surface in aqueous solution, containing divalent (Mg(2+), Ca(2+), or Sr(2+)) or monovalent (Na(+), K(+), or Rb(+)) cations, was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results indicate that ionic radii and charges will significantly affect the hydration, adsorption geometry, and distance of cations from the rutile surface, thereby regulating the Asp/rutile binding mode. The adsorption strength of monovalent cations on the rutile surface in the order Na(+) > K(+) > Rb(+) shows a "reverse" lyotropic trend, while the divalent cations on the same surface exhibit a "regular" lyotropic behavior with decreasing crystallographic radii (the adsorption strength of divalent cations: Sr(2+) > Ca(2+) > Mg(2+)). The Asp side chain in NaCl, KCl, and RbCl solutions remains stably H-bonded to the surface hydroxyls and the inner-sphere adsorbed compensating monovalent cations act as a bridge between the COO(-) group and the rutile, helping to "trap" the negatively charged Asp side chain on the negatively charged surface. In contrast, the mediating divalent cations actively participate in linking the COO(-) group to the rutile surface; thus the Asp side chain can remain stably on the rutile (110) surface, even if it is not involved in any hydrogen bonds with the surface hydroxyls. Inner- and outer-sphere geometries are all possible mediation modes for divalent cations in bridging the peptide to the rutile surface.     

Effect of annealing temperature on titania thin films prepared by spin coating

Essentially fully dense titania thin films were spin coated on fused quartz substrates under identical conditions and subjected to annealing over the range 750°–900°C. The films were of a consistent ~400 nm thickness. The anatase → rutile phase transformation temperature was between 750°C and 800°C, with first-order kinetics; annealing at 900°C yielded single-phase rutile. Silicon contamination from the fused quartz substrate was considered to be critical since it suppressed both titania grain growth (maintaining constant grain size) and the phase transformation (occurring at an unusually high temperature); its presence also was considered to be responsible for the formation of lattice defects, which decreased the transmittances and the band gaps.     

CATION/ANION MODIFIED CERIA-ZIRCONIA SOLID SOLUTIONS PROMOTED BY Pt AS CATALYSTS OF METHANE OXIDATION INTO SYNGAS BY WATER IN REVERSIBLE REDOX CYCLES

Ca and/or F-modified fluorite-like Ce-Zr-mixed oxides have been prepared by Pechinis method. The bulk structure of samples was characterized by XRD, EXAFS and FTIRS of the lattice modes. The surface properties were studied by SIMS and FTIRS of adsorbed CO and surface hydroxyls. The specific reactivity of the surface oxygen, its amount, coefficients of bulk and near-surface diffusion, as dependent upon the sample composition and temperature, were estimated using sample reduction by CO in the pulse/flow mode. Insertion of fluorine into the lattice results in decreasing the degree of oxygen polyhedra distortion, thus decreasing the amount of reactive oxygen and diffusion coefficients. Calcium and Pt addition counteracts this effect. At 500^oC for Pt-supported Ce-Zr-O samples including those modified by Ca and F, the lattice oxygen is easily removed by methane generating CO and hydrogen with high selectivity. Reoxidation of reduced samples by water or carbon dioxide at the same temperature restores the oxygen capacity producing more hydrogen or carbon monoxide.     

Crystallization kinetics study of In-doped and (In-Cr) co-doped TiO2 nanopowders using in-situ high-temperature synchrotron radiation diffraction

The influence of TiO₂ nanopowder doping with 4 wt% indium and 2 wt% each of indium and chromium on phase transformation was studied. Samples were heated from ambient temperature to 950 °C in sealed quartz capillaries, and in-situ synchrotron radiation diffraction measurements were obtained. Capillary sealing yielded an increase in capillary gas pressure to 0.42 MPa at 950 °C in proportion to absolute temperature by Gay-Lussac’s Law. The initial synthesized samples were amorphous, and crystalline anatase appeared at 200 °C. Crystalline rutile appeared at 850 °C for the nanomaterials that were doped with In and In and Cr. A change in sealed-capillary oxygen partial pressure yielded a decrease and an increase in crystallization temperature, respectively, for the amorphous-to-anatase and anatase-to-rutile transformations. Crystalline titania (anatase and rutile) formed from the amorphous titania by 800 °C and 900 °C, for materials doped with In and In-Cr, respectively. The anatase concentration that was dominant in the In-doped materials up to 950 °C and the higher rutile concentration for the In-Cr doped materials from 900 to 950 °C results from the defect structure that was induced by doping. Cr-ions in the Ti sub-lattice retarded the transformation of anatase to rutile when compared with the retarding effect of mixed In/Cr ions. The transformation results because of the relatively smaller radius of Cr-ions when compared with the In-ions. The differences in phase-transformation kinetics for In, In-Cr and for undoped nanopowders in the literature agree with the calculated transformation activation energies.     

Characterization of oxides obtained by heating a mixture of peroxoniobic acid and peroxotitanic acid

Nb-doped TiO(2) particles were prepared by heating a mixture of peroxotitanic acid and peroxoniobic acid in air. When the heating temperature was more than 1173 K, the dominant phase obtained was rutile TiO(2), along with a small amount of TiNb(2)O(7). The relationship between the lattice parameters of the obtained rutile TiO(2) depended on the molar fraction of Nb/(Ti + Nb). In the case where peroxo compounds were used as a precursor, a change in the lattice parameters of the rutile TiO(2) was observed within the lower X(Nb) range, as compared to the alkoxide method. The results indicate that a homogeneous dispersion of doped Nb(5+) ions in the obtained rutile TiO(2) lattice was achieved by using peroxo compounds. Furthermore, the oxide particles obtained by using peroxo compounds had a lower activation energy of the carrier electrons (E(a)) and oxygen vacancies, even though the heating procedure was carried out in air. The UV-vis absorption spectra and Raman spectra of the obtained oxide particles indicated that the dominant reaction of the decomposition of O(2)(2-) ions in the TiO(2) lattice was O(2)(2-)→ O(2) + 2e(-) as a reducing agent.     

Adsorption of water on reconstructed rutile TiO2(011)-(2 x 1): Ti=O double bonds and surface reactivity

Recent combined experimental and theoretical studies (Beck et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 2004, 93, 036104) have provided evidence for Ti=O double-bonded titanyl groups on the reconstructed rutile TiO(2)(011)-(2 x 1) surface. The adsorption of water on the same surface is now investigated to further probe the properties of these groups, as well as to confirm their existence. Ultraviolet photoemission experiments show that water is adsorbed in molecular form at a sample temperature of 110 K. At the same time, the presence of a 3sigma state in the photoemission spectra and work function measurements indicate a significant amount of hydroxyls within the first monolayer of water. At room temperature, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) suggests that dissociated water is present, and about 30% of the surface active sites are hydroxylated. These findings are well explained by total energy density functional theory calculations and Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations for water adsorption on the titanyl model of TiO(2)(011)-(2 x 1). The theoretical results show that a mixed molecular/dissociative layer is the most stable configuration in the monolayer regime at low temperatures, while complete dissociation takes place at 250 K. The arrangement of the protonated mono-coordinated oxygens in the mixed molecular/dissociated layer is consistent with the observed short-range order of the hydroxyls in the STM images.     

The effect of hydrogen bonding interactions between 2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-3-hydroxy-4H-chromene-4-one in the ground and excited states and dimethylsulfoxide or methanol on electronic absorption and emission transitions

The surface state of optically pure polydisperse TiO₂ (anatase and rutile) was determined by infra-red (IR) spectroscopy analysis in the temperature range of 100–453 K. Anatase A300 spectrum, contrary to rutile R300 one, has a broad three-component absorption band with peaks at 1048, 1137 and 1222 cm⁻¹ in the spectral range of δ(Ti–O–H) deformation vibrations. For rutile R300 we observed a very weak band at 1047 cm⁻¹, and for the thermal treated rutile R900 these bands were not appeared at all. The analysis of temperature dependencies for the mentioned absorption bands revealed the spectral shift of 1222 cm⁻¹ band towards the high frequencies, when the temperature increased, but the spectral parameters of 1137 and 1048 cm⁻¹ bands remained the same. The temperature of 1222 cm⁻¹ band maximum shift was 373–393 K and correlated with DSC data. Obtained results allowed to assign 1222 cm⁻¹ band to the deformation vibrations of OH-groups, bounded to the surface adsorbed water molecules by weak hydrogen bonds (5 kcal/mol). During the temperature growth these molecules desorbed, which also resulted in the intensity decreasing of stretching OH-groups vibration IR-bands at 3420 cm⁻¹. The destruction and desorption of surface water complexes led to Ti–O–H bond strengthening. IR bands at 1137 and 1048 cm⁻¹ were attributed to the stronger bounded adsorbed water molecules, which are also characterized with stretching OH-groups vibration bands at 3200 cm⁻¹. These surface structure were additionally stabilized by hydrogen bonds with the neighbouring TiO₂ lattice anions and other OH-groups, and desorbed at higher temperatures.     

Spectroscopic study of polycrystalline TiO2 doped with vanadium

The structure of coordination sites (V⁴⁺ ions) and their spatial distribution in the polycrystalline titanium dioxide (rutile) lattice were studied by ESR. It was found that at low degrees of doping, at [V⁴⁺] < 0.5 at.%, the vanadium ions are isotropically distributed in the rutile lattice. At [V⁴⁺] > 0.5 at.% a new microphase with the mixed composition {TiO₂—VO²} is formed. The mixed microphase has a noticeably narrower band gap than the initial TiO₂. Comparison of the photocurrent spectra and the plots of the integral photocurrent vs. vanadium content with the structural data obtained using ESR spectroscopy showed that the formation of the {TiO₂—VO²} microphases deteriorates the photoelectrochemical properties of the modified photoelectrodes. Synthetic procedures interfering the formation of such microphases in the doped rutile are discussed.     

Temperature dependence of the solubility limit of chromia (Cr2O3) in titania (TiO2)

Electron microscopic observations are made to establish (i) that (Ti,Cr)O_2?x is a true nonstoichiometric phase, containing small defects, coherent with and highly mobile within the rutile lattice, such small defects being effectively randomized homogeneously throughout the lattice, and (ii) the approximate temperatures for small/extended defect equilibria in(Ti,Cr)O_2?x (0 ≦ x ≦ 0.05), using a novel technique for the determination of the temperature and stoichiometry dependence of the phase limits. These results are readily interpreted in terms of linear cationic interstitial small defect models.     

Differentiating between Acidic and Basic Surface Hydroxyls on Metal Oxides by Fluoride Substitution: A Case Study on Blue TiO2 from Laser Defect Engineering

Both oxygen vacancies and surface hydroxyls play a crucial role in catalysis. Yet, their relationship is not often explored. Herein, we prepare two series of TiO₂ (rutile and P25) with increasing oxygen deficiency and Ti³⁺ concentration by pulsed laser defect engineering in liquid (PUDEL), and selectively quantify the acidic and basic surface OH by fluoride substitution. As indicated by EPR spectroscopy, the laser-generated Ti³⁺ exist near the surface of rutile, but appear to be deeper in the bulk for P25. Fluoride substitution shows that extra acidic bridging OH are selectively created on rutile, while the surface OH density remains constant for P25. These observations suggest near-surface Ti³⁺ are highly related to surface bridging OH, presumably the former increasing the electron density of the bridging oxygen to form more of the latter. We anticipate that fluoride substitution will enable better characterization of surface OH and its correlation with defects in metal oxides.     

The influence of concentration of doping elements on anatase–rutile transformation at the synthesis of rutile pigments (Ti,Cr,Nb)O2 and their pigmentary properties

An analysis of the effects of dopants concentration and different starting titanium compounds on the anatase to rutile phase transformation at the synthesis of rutile pigments Ti_1?3xCr_xNb_2xO_2±δ is presented in this study. The main goal was to analyze reaction mixtures for x = 0.05 (previous study) and 0.30 by simultaneous TG–DTA analysis and to determine the temperature of anatase–rutile transition. For x = 0.05, initial temperatures 760–830 °C are needful for a formation of rutile structure. The temperature is the lowest for the hydrated Na₂Ti₄O₉ paste (760 °C) and similar for other starting compounds of titanium. But for x = 0.30, the anatase–rutile transition begins at higher temperatures 910–1,030 °C because of high-Nb content, which is the inhibitor of this modification change. In addition, we found the influence of calcination temperatures (850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050, 1100, and 1150 °C) on color properties and particle size distribution of these materials prepared from anatase TiO₂ and with x = 0.30. Selected pigments were also analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction.     

Facile fabrication of rutile monolayer films consisting of well crystalline nanorods by following an IL-assisted hydrothermal route

In this study, rutile films consisting of rectangular nanorods were facilely deposited on glass substrates from strongly acid solution of TiCl₄. The highly ordered array of nanorods was realized in presence of ionic liquid (IL) of [Bmim]Br by following a hydrothermal process. In this process, Degussa P25 nanoparticles served as seeds that were pre-deposited on the substrates to facilitate the array of rutile nanorods. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectrum were used to characterize the obtained nanorod films. The measurements showed that the nanorods were rectangular with width of 100-200 nm and length of more than 1 μm, and grew up typically along c-axis to form the arrays against the substrate. The presence of IL was found vital for the formation of rutile nanorods, and the suitable molar ratio of [Bmim]Br to TiCl₄ ranged from 500:1 to 1500:1. The excessive [Bmim]Br may hinder the precipitation of rutile particles.     

EPR investigation of TiO2 nanoparticles with temperature-dependent properties

An in situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study has been carried out for anatase (Hombikat UV100) and rutile TiO(2) nanoparticles at liquid helium (He) temperature (4.2 K) under UV irradiation. Rutile titania was synthesized by ultrasonic irradiation with titanium tetrachloride (TiCl(4)) as the precursor. XRD and Raman results evidence the crystallinity of titania phases. The nature of trapped electrons and holes has been investigated by EPR spectroscopy under air and vacuum conditions. Illumination of TiO(2) powder (anatase and rutile) at 4.2 K resulted in the detection of electrons being trapped at Ti(4+) sites within the bulk and holes trapped at lattice oxide ions at the surface. The stability of electron traps was very sensitive to temperature in both phases of TiO(2). The annealing kinetics of the EPR detected radicals has been studied from 4.2 K to ambient temperature and also for calcined titania particles from 523 to 1273 K.     

A cross-association model for CO2-methanol and CO2-ethanol mixtures

A cross-association model was proposed for CO₂-alcohol mixtures based on the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT). CO₂ was treated as a pseudo-associating molecule and both the self-association between alcohol hydroxyls and the cross-association between CO₂ and alcohol hydroxyls were considered. The equilibrium properties from low temperature-pressure to high temperature-pressure were investigated using this model. The calculated p-x and p-ρ diagrams of CO₂-methanol and CO₂-ethanol mixtures agreed with the experimental data. The results showed that when the cross-association was taken into account for Helmholtz free energy, the calculated equilibrium properties could be significantly improved, and the error prediction of the three phase equilibria and triple points in low temperature regions could be avoided.     

Determination of hydroxyls density in the silica-mesostructured cellular foams by thermogravimetry

Thermogravimetry was applied to determine the surface hydroxyls coverage in the mesostructured cellular foams (MCFs) calcined at different temperatures and then rehydroxylated by contacting with water vapor or liquid. The TG measurements were performed by heating MCFs in air stream using a three-step temperature program: (i) at rate of 5 °C min⁻¹ from 25 to 200 °C; (ii) held at 200 °C for 30 min; and (iii) heating at rate of 10 °C min⁻¹ up to 1100 °C. The hydroxyls content was calculated from weight loss during third step. The hydroxyls density appeared to depend strongly on the calcination temperature and the subsequent contact with water vapor. When MCFs were exposed for a short period (ca. 1 min) to moist air the hydroxyls content increased rapidly, more in the samples calcined at 300 °C than 500 °C, to attain surface densities of 4.75 and 1.6 OH nm⁻², respectively. The 2-h contact with water vapor resulted in slower further increase of hydroxyls densities, to values of 5.45 and 2.9 OH nm⁻², for samples calcined at 300 and 500 °C, but longer contacts had no significant effect. A similar trend was also observed when sample was treated with liquid water.