Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Synthesis and Reaction Chemistry of Nanosize Monosodium Titanate
Published on: February 23, 2016
Interplay between the morphology, crystal facets and silver modifications of titanium dioxide nanomaterials in the
Nasir Shakeel1,2, Ireneusz Piwoński1, Aneta Kisielewska1
1University of Lodz, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Materials Technology and Chemistry, Pomorska 163, 90-236 Lodz, Poland. nasir.shakeel@edu.uni.lodz.pl.
Abstract:
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) having the morphology of nanofibers (TNFs), nanorods (TNRs), and nanograss (TNGs) nanostructures were prepared. Synthetic procedures had a great impact on the obtained morphology and phase. Nanomaterials were prepared under neutral conditions in the presence of ethylene glycol for TNFs, while those obtained under strongly basic conditions during the recrystallization process of the TiO2 powder exhibited the morphology of TNRs. Both materials, TNFs and TNRs, exhibited the anatase phase. In contrast, under strongly acidic conditions in the presence of toluene, TNGs were formed that crystallized in the rutile phase. Specific exposed planes are directly related to the crystal morphology. XRD measurements revealed that in the case of anatase nanomaterials (TNFs, TNRs), the {101} facet was exposed, while in rutile nanomaterials (TNGs 1 and 2), the {110} facet was exposed. The interplay between the morphology, the most stable facets, and modification with silver had a great impact on the photocatalytic properties. Anatase nanomaterials, especially those with low crystallinity (TNFs), exhibited the highest photoactivity towards rhodamine B (RhB) decomposition, while highly crystalline rutile crystals did not exhibit good photocatalytic performance, neither in UV nor in simulated solar light (SSL). However, the photoactive performance could be enhanced for most materials by modification of their surface with metallic silver and the creation of a Schottky barrier. The mechanisms of photocatalytic decomposition were revealed using hole scavengers, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion radicals. Finally, the antibacterial activity of the nanostructures was assessed using bacterial cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis. The maximum zones of inhibition (ZOI) recorded for TNGs 1 Ag was 7.1 ± 012 mm against P. mirabilis and 7.2 ± 0.04 mm against S. aureus. Meanwhile, TNGs 2 Ag showed the maximum ZOI of 9.1 ± 0.09 mm against P. mirabili.
More Related Videos
07:08In Situ Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles without Aggregation in the Interlayer Space of Layered Titanate Transparent Films
Published on: January 17, 2017
11:47The Effect of Interfacial Chemical Bonding in TiO2-SiO2 Composites on Their Photocatalytic NOx Abatement Performance
Published on: July 4, 2017
Related Concept Videos
02:51Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
02:34Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
02:52Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
02:46Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
01:19Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect