Transformation of nanomaterials in aqueous environment has significant impact on their behavior in engineered application and natural system. In this paper, UV irradiation induced transformation of TiO 2 nanoparticles in aqueous solutions was demonstrated, and its effect on the aggregation and photocatalytic reactivity of TiO 2 was investigated. UV irradiation of a TiO 2 nanoparticle suspension accelerated nanoparticle aggregation that was dependent on the irradiation duration. The aggregation rate increased from <0.001 nm/s before irradiation to 0.027 nm/s after 50 h irradiation, resulting in aggregates with a hydrodynamic diameter of 623 nm. The isoelectric point of the suspension was lowered from 7.0 to 6.4 after irradiation, indicating less positive charges on the surface. ATR-FTIR spectra displayed successive growth of surface hydroxyl groups with UV irradiation which might be responsible for the change of surface charge and aggregation rate. UV irradiation also changed the photocatalytic degradation rate of Rhodamine B by TiO 2 , which initially increased with irradiation time, then decreased. Based on the photoluminescence decay and photocurrent collection data, the change was attributed to the variation in interparticle charge transfer kinetics. These results highlight the importance of light irradiation on the transformation and reactivity of TiO 2 nanomaterials.
■ INTRODUCTIONSemiconductor nanomaterials have attracted intensive interest due to their ability to drive photochemical reactions under solar light irradiation. 1−4 In particular, TiO 2 nanoparticles are widely used in photocatalytic devices to achieve environmental remediation and water splitting because of their low-cost, low toxicity and robust performance. 5,6 Modeling studies predicted the annual production of nano-TiO 2 would exceed 2.5 million tons by 2025. 7 With the high reactivity and the rising demand of nano-TiO 2 , it is essential to elucidate both their stability in the practical devices during the life cycle of these products and their transformation process after discharge into the natural environment.Typical transformation processes of nanomaterials include aggregation, dissolution, redox reaction, photochemical reaction, and biocatalyzed degradation. 8−10 A nanomaterial may participate in one or more processes, depending not only on its inherent properties but also on the surrounding environmental factors. Indeed, once introduced to the practical applications, nano-TiO 2 encounters the environmental factors (e.g., natural organic matter, ionic species and sunlight) and then nano-TiO 2 will inevitably undergo physical and chemical transformations due to their high surface reactivity and large specific surface area. These transformation pathways will in turn govern their photoreactivity and environmental fate. Because of its high chemical stability, studies on the nano-TiO 2 behavior are mainly related to aggregation process. 11−13 Typically, The hydroxyl groups covered on nano-TiO 2 surface would interact with differe...