Hierarchical TiO sub(2) photocatalysts with a one-dimensional heterojunction for improved photocatalytic activities

• Published in: Nano research 2015-06, Vol.8 (6), p.2092-2101
• Main Authors: Xie, Yingjuan, Zhang, Xiao, Ma, Peijun, Wu, Zhijiao, Piao, Lingyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Heterojunctions; Microspheres; Nanostructure; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Rutile; Specific surface; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-015-0720-3

Hierarchical TiO sub(2) photocatalysts with a one-dimensional heterojunction were synthesized via a facile template-free hydrothermal method. The TiO sub(2) photocatalysts were flower-like microspheres with a 3 mu m diameter. The base structure of the flower-like microspheres was a uniform nanowire with a 10 nm diameter. Anatase films were evenly coated onto the surface of the rutile TiO sub(2) nanowires to form a one-dimensional core-shell base structure. This kind of one-dimensional heterojunction is conducive to the separation of charge carriers. In addition, the hierarchical TiO sub(2) microspheres possessed a good mesoporous structure with a high specific surface area of 260 m super(2)/g. Thus, the light scattering and utilization efficiency were improved in this structure. The photocatalysts exhibited better performance in both photocatalytic oxidation and reduction reactions. Moreover, the novel TiO sub(2) photocatalysts displayed excellent stability in these reactions. This kind of hierarchical TiO sub(2) structure has never been reported in the literature. The hierarchical structure and one-dimensional heterojunction were vital to the increase in quantum efficiency. Therefore, these hierarchical TiO sub(2) photocatalysts have potential applications in the environmental and energy fields, such as in photocatalytic degradation, hydrogen production, Li-ion batteries, and dye-sensitized solar cells. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]