Single nanocrystals of anatase-type TiO2 prepared from layered titanate nanosheets: formation mechanism and characterization of surface properties

Anatase-type TiO2 single nanocrystals with boatlike, comblike, sheetlike, leaflike, quadrate, rhombic, and wirelike particle morphologies were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of a layered titanate nanosheet colloidal solution. The formation reactions and surface properties of the TiO2 nanocrystals were investigated using XRD, TEM, TG-DTA analyses, and measurements of BET specific surface area, photocatalytic activity, and ruthenium dye (N719) adsorption. The crystal morphology can be controlled by reaction temperature, pH value of reaction solution, and exfoliating agent. The titanate nanosheets were transformed to the TiO2 nanocrystals by two types of reactions. One is an in situ topotactic structural transformation reaction, and the other is a dissolution-deposition reaction on the surface. The anatase nanocrystals formed by the in situ topotactic structural transformation reaction retain the sheetlike particle morphology of the precursor, and they preferentially expose the (010) plane of anatase structure. The crystal surface of anatase nanocrystals prepared in this study showed higher photocatalytic activity and higher ruthenium dye adsorption capacity than did the Ishihara ST-01 sample, a standard anatase nanocrystal sample. The results indicated the (010) plane of the anatase structure has high photocatalytic activity and high ruthenium dye adsorption ability.