Evolution of photo-catalytic properties of reactive plasma processed nano-crystalline titanium dioxide powder

• Published in: Applied surface science 2009-09, Vol.255 (23), p.9316-9322
• Main Authors: Vijay, M., Ananthapadmanabhan, P.V., Sreekumar, K.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arc plasma synthesis; Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; Clusters, nanoparticles, and nanocrystalline materials; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Materials science; Nano-structure; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanopowders; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals; Photo-catalysis; Physics; Reactive plasma processing; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Surface property; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2009.07.018

Nano-crystalline titanium oxide powder was synthesized by reactive plasma processing using titanium hydride as the precursor powder. Photo-catalytic properties of the product were evaluated by monitoring the degradation of methylene blue dye solution. The photo-catalytic activity of plasma-synthesized nano-sized titania powder could be enhanced considerably by incorporating surface Ti 3+ sites and hydroxyl groups. Thermal treatment of the as-synthesized powder in flowing Ar–H 2 helped to incorporate surface Ti 3+ and hydroxyl species, resulting in considerable increase in the catalytic activity. Subsequent hydrothermal treatment of the powder led to a five-fold increase in the photo-catalytic activity.