Discovering the Determining Parameters for the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Colloids Based on an Anomalous Dependence on the Specific Surface Area
Wintzheimer S, Szczerba W, Buzanich AG, Kashiwaya S, Klein A, Jaegermann W, Toupance T, Shmeliov A, Nicolosi V, Heuze K, Mandel K, Dembski S (2018)
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2018
Journal
Book Volume: 35
Article Number: 1800216
Journal Issue: 9
Abstract
The photocatalytic (PC) performance of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles strongly depends on their specific surface, the presence of crystal defects, their crystal phase, and the exposed crystal facets. In order to understand which of these factors contributes most significantly to the PC activity of TiO2 colloids, all of them have to be individually analyzed. This study entails the synthesis of five anatase nanocrystal samples. By maintaining the same reactant ratios as well as hydrothermal sol–gel synthesis route and only varying the autoclaving time or temperature, different crystallite sizes are obtained under comparable experimental conditions. A decrease in PC performance with increase in specific surface area is found. Such an unexpected counterintuitive result establishes the basis for a better understanding of the crucial factors that ultimately determine the PC activity. These are investigated by studying nanocrystals bulk and surface structure and morphology using a selection of complementary analysis methods (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), X-ray diffraction (XRD)…). It is found that a change in the nanocrystal morphology from an equilibrium state truncated tetragonal bipyramid to a more elongated rod-like structure accompanied by an increase in oxygen vacancies is responsible for an augmented PC activity of the TiO2 nanocrystals.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Institut national de physique nucléaire et de physique des particules (IN2P3)
France (FR)
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Germany (DE)
Trinity College Dublin
Ireland (IE)
Fraunhofer Institut für Silicatforschung (ISC)
Germany (DE)
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
Germany (DE)
University of Science and Technology (AGH) / Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza
Poland (PL)
France (FR)
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Germany (DE)
Trinity College Dublin
Ireland (IE)
Fraunhofer Institut für Silicatforschung (ISC)
Germany (DE)
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
Germany (DE)
University of Science and Technology (AGH) / Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza
Poland (PL)
How to cite
APA:
Wintzheimer, S., Szczerba, W., Buzanich, A.G., Kashiwaya, S., Klein, A., Jaegermann, W.,... Dembski, S. (2018). Discovering the Determining Parameters for the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Colloids Based on an Anomalous Dependence on the Specific Surface Area. Particle & Particle Systems Characterization, 35(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/ppsc.201800216
MLA:
Wintzheimer, Susanne, et al. "Discovering the Determining Parameters for the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Colloids Based on an Anomalous Dependence on the Specific Surface Area." Particle & Particle Systems Characterization 35.9 (2018).
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