One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of the dual-phase anatase/TiO2-B nanoparticles with K2Ti6O13 nanofibers for enhanced photocatalysis

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 302; p. 130333
• Main Authors: Liu, Xiaohan, Chen, Yao, Chen, Tongzhou, Liu, Yong, Han, Gaorong, Xu, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Anatase; Crystal growth; Distilled water; Ethylene glycol; Heterojunction; Heterojunctions; High temperature; Hydrofluoric acid; Materials science; Nanocomposites; Nanofibers; Nanoparticles; Performance degradation; Photocatalysis; Synergistic effect; Titanium dioxide; Titanium oxide; Crystal growth; Nanocomposites; Titanium oxide; Photocatalysis; Heterojunction
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2021.130333

•A simple hydrothermal route to realize the synthesis of the dual-phase anatase/TiO2-B nanoparticles.•The crystal growth mechanism of transforming from K2Ti6O13 nanofibers to dual-phase anatase/TiO2-B nanoparticles.•The dual-phase anatase/TiO2-B nanoparticles exhibit excellent performance for the degradation of RhB. Dual-phase anatase/TiO2-B nanoparticles have been synthesized with layered K2Ti6O13 nanofibers prepared in advance as precursors via a one-pot hydrothermal route. It is believed that the synergistic effects of the hydrofluoric acid and mixed solvent of the distilled water and ethylene glycol induce the transformation of K2Ti6O13 nanofibers to dual-phase anatase/TiO2-B nanocomposite particles. Compared to the conventional routes, the present TiO2-B is achieved directly in the hydrothermal processing without further annealing at high temperature. Due to the heterojunction among the dual-phase of anatase and TiO2-B, the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes is enhanced. In consequence, the dual-phase anatase/TiO2-B composite nanoparticles exhibit excellent performance for the degradation of RhB over the pure anatase nanoplates.