Green Synthesis of TiO₂ Nanoparticles in a Deep Eutectic Solvent for High‐Performance Photocatalysis: The Role of the Cosolvent

Abstract

Herein, we report a unique surfactant‐free synthetic pathway for the synthesis of anatase TiO2 catalysts in the size range of 13 to 20 nm by solvothermal method using choline chloride‐urea deep eutectic solvent (DES) as green media and 2‐propanol as cosolvent. The composition of reline was tuned by adding 0 (pure reline), 5, 10, 20 and 50 wt% of 2‐propanol. The amount of cosolvent was found to have a significant influence on TiO2 particle size, N2 isotherms and the magnitude of Urbach energy formed within the band gap of mesoporous TiO2 nanostructures. The sample obtained with 10 wt% of propanol showed the best photocatalytic activity in the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB), which is attributed to the combined effect of Urbach tail states, specific surface area, particle size and band gap energy of TiO2 NPs. Radical trapping experiments with scavengers revealed that OH⋅ radicals are primarily responsible for RhB decomposition.

A Scalable Synthesis of Ag Nanoporous Film As an Efficient SERS-Substrates for Sensitive Detection of Nanoplastics

“…Additionally, it was shown that lowering pressure can reduce the kinetic energy of sputtered metal atoms, restricting their lateral movement at the liquid surface . On the other hand, lowering pressure can decrease the viscosity of the DES due to enhanced viscous dissipation and expansion of the hydrogen bonding network within the ChCl–urea components of DES . Such viscosity changes at the DES surface can influence long-range van der Waals interactions between DES and metallic NPs, impacting subsequent self-assembly of Ag NPs. , Consequently, deposition at higher pressures (Ag–P1, Ag–P2) may cause Ag atoms to diffuse partially into the bulk DES, promoting self-assembly into agglomerated particles.…”