Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of morphology-controlled TiO₂ particles with efficient photocatalytic activity

Abstract

A facile ionic liquid-assisted route is proposed for the controllable synthesis of anatase TiO2 particles with efficient photocatalytic activity.

Highly Active TiO2 Microspheres Formation in the Presence of Ethylammonium Nitrate Ionic Liquid

“…On the basis of the photocatalytic effect, we chose the sample with the highest activity in order to examine the kinetics of the TiO 2 microsphere formation in the presence of ethylammonium nitrite ionic liquid, which is shown in Figure 1. As presented in Table 1, the effect of the solvothermal synthesis duration (3,6,12, and 24 h) on the surface properties as well as the photoactivity for the IL:TBOT ratio equaled to 1:1 were also investigated. [29].…”

“…In this regard, the high surface area of the particles prepared within 3 h may be related to a higher contribution of the smallest particles. with different times of thermal treatment (3,6,12, and 24 h) presented in Figure 3. In all of the introduced variations, the majority of the particles lay within the scope of 1-3 µm for 3 h (48%), 2-3 µm for 6 (24%) and 24 h (28%), and 3-4 µm for 12 h (19%).…”

“…The high efficiency of the phenol degradation of the ionic liquid (IL)-TiO 2 photocatalysts was ascribed to the interaction between the surface of the TiO 2 and ionic liquid components (carbon and nitrogen). effectiveness of the photocatalysis [5,6]. The extension of the TiO 2 spectral response range to absorb the photons under visible (43%) or/and near infrared (49% of solar spectrum energy) irradiation is crucial for this purpose.…”

“…The extension of the TiO 2 spectral response range to absorb the photons under visible (43%) or/and near infrared (49% of solar spectrum energy) irradiation is crucial for this purpose. The TiO 2 photocatalytic properties can be controlled and their optical response can be expanded to absorb photons under visible or/and near infrared light irradiation through the alteration of the TiO 2 bandgap via morphology engineering [7][8][9][10].It was found that, after excitation, the electrons and holes propagate to the nano-and micro-particles surface where they react with electron acceptors and donors, respectively [6,9,11,12]. Additionally, it has been noted that a slower recombination rate and a larger surface area accounted for more active adsorption/desorption reactions and the surface transfer of photoexcited electrons [9,12,13], whereas the potential adverse effects that originate in the highly defective sites, typically developing with the growth of a large surface area, may be rectified by a higher crystallization of the particles [9].Ionic liquids (ILs) have gained increasing attention in terms of their assistance in TiO 2 synthesis as solvents as well as spatial and, perhaps, band structuring agents.…”

“…It was found that, after excitation, the electrons and holes propagate to the nano-and micro-particles surface where they react with electron acceptors and donors, respectively [6,9,11,12]. Additionally, it has been noted that a slower recombination rate and a larger surface area accounted for more active adsorption/desorption reactions and the surface transfer of photoexcited electrons [9,12,13], whereas the potential adverse effects that originate in the highly defective sites, typically developing with the growth of a large surface area, may be rectified by a higher crystallization of the particles [9].…”