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TiO2 Phase Ratio's Contribution to the Photocatalytic Activity
Anna Stepanova1, Teddy Tite1, Iryna Ivanenko2
1National Institute of Materials Physics, Magurele 077125, Romania.
ACS Omega
|November 16, 2023
Summary
Hydrothermal synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) powders effectively degrades rhodamine B dye. Optimized TiO2 phases show high efficiency in removing pollutants under UV and solar light, addressing environmental concerns.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Industrial pollution from dyes, medicine, and heavy metals poses significant environmental challenges.
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a highly promising semiconductor for photocatalysis due to its stability and efficiency.
- Developing effective TiO2-based photocatalysts is crucial for environmental remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize TiO2 powders via hydrothermal methods using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4).
- To investigate the impact of hydrochloric acid (HCl) concentration on TiO2 phase formation and properties.
- To evaluate the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye using synthesized TiO2 under UV and solar irradiation.
Main Methods:
- Hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 using TiCl4 and varying HCl concentrations.
- Morpho-structural characterization using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and N2 physisorption.
- Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for defect center and reactive oxygen species analysis.
- Photocatalytic degradation experiments using rhodamine B dye under UV light and solar simulator.
Main Results:
- Hydrochloric acid concentration influenced TiO2 phase formation, with anatase crystallizing under less acidic conditions (crystallite size ≈9 nm).
- A TiO2 sample with 76% rutile exhibited 96% RhB degradation under solar simulation and 91% under UV light after 90 min.
- The optimal sample, containing 67% anatase, achieved 99% RhB degradation within 60 min under solar simulation.
Conclusions:
- The hydrothermal synthesis route allows for controlled formation of TiO2 phases by adjusting HCl concentration.
- Synthesized TiO2 powders demonstrate significant potential for the degradation of organic pollutants like rhodamine B.
- Optimized TiO2 photocatalysts, particularly those with specific anatase and rutile ratios, offer efficient solutions for environmental remediation under solar and UV light.
