Hydrothermal Synthesis of Co-Exposed-Faceted WO3 Nanocrystals with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

In this paper, rod-shaped, cuboid-shaped, and irregular WO₃ nanocrystals with different co-exposed crystal facets were prepared for the first time by a simple hydrothermal treatment of tungstic acid colloidal suspension with desired pH values. The crystal structure, morphology, specific surface area, pore size distribution, chemical composition, electronic states of the elements, optical properties, and charge migration behavior of as-obtained WO₃ products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fully automatic specific surface area and porosity analyzer, UV-vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The photocatalytic performances of the synthesized pHx-WO₃ nanocrystals (x = 0.0, 1.5, 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0) were evaluated and compared with the commercial WO₃ (CM-WO₃) nanocrystals. The pH7.0-WO₃ nanocrystals with co-exposed {202} and {020} facets exhibited highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue solution, which can be attributed to the synergistic effects of the largest specific surface area, the weakest luminescence peak intensity and the smallest arc radius diameter.

Microflowery, Microspherical, and Fan-Shaped TiO2 Crystals via Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Nanorods with Exposed Specific Crystal Facets and Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

In this paper, khaki titanium dioxide (TiO2) crystals via hierarchical self-assembly of nanorods with different morphologies and specific exposed crystal facets were prepared for the first time by using a TiCl3 treatment process in the presence and absence of morphology-controlling agents. The crystal structure, morphology, microstructure, specific surface area, and separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs of the synthesized TiO2 crystals were characterized. The photocatalytic and recycled performances of the synthesized TiO2 crystals in the presence of shape-controlling agents, such as ammonium sulfate (AS), ammonium carbonate (AC), and urea, and the absence of shape-controlling agents (the obtained TiO2 crystals were expressed as AS-TiO2, AC-TiO2, urea-TiO2, and No-TiO2, respectively) were evaluated and compared with the commercial TiO2 (CM-TiO2) crystals. The AS-TiO2 microspheres with exposed uncertain facets exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue solution, which can be attributed to the combined effect of the anatase phase structure, relatively larger specific surface area, and the effective separation of the photogenerated electron-holes.

Role of calcium ions in defining the bioactivity of surface modified Ti metal

Nano-structured hydrogen titanate and sodium hydrogen titanate layers were formed when Ti metal was treated with H₂O₂ and NaOH solutions, respectively. The chemically treated Ti metals upon subsequent treatment with Ca(NO₃)₂ and CaCl₂ solutions, resulted in incorporation of Ca²⁺ ions into the nano-structured titanate layer. Thus formed nano-structured titanate layers containing Ca²⁺ ions when subjected to heat treatment, forms anatase and calcium titanate-rutile phases, respectively. In vitro apatite-forming ability in simulated body fluid (SBF) was positive for H₂O₂-Ca and heat-treated Ti metal in contrast to NaOH-Ca and heat treatment. Formation of anatase phase together with Ca²⁺ ion release into SBF was found to be the key driving force for such a high bioactivity of Ca²⁺ containing H₂O₂ treated Ti metal on contrary to NaOH and heat treatment. This study provides a new insight into the factors accelerating the bioactivity of Ti metals during various chemical and thermal treatments, which further aid and abet to design dental and orthopaedic implants with high bone-bonding ability.

Surfactant-driven direct synthesis of a hierarchical hollow MgO nanofiber–nanoparticle composite by electrospinning

A single step synthesis of hierarchical MgO nanoparticle–nanofiber composite using surfactant driven electrospinning.

Synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/thorn-like titanium dioxide nanofiber aerogels with enhanced electrochemical performance for supercapacitor

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/thorn-like TiO₂ nanofiber (TTF) aerogels, or GTTF aerogels, with different TTF weight ratios were successfully prepared by electrospinning, silica etching and hydrothermal combination method. During the hydrothermal reaction, the rGO nanosheets and TTF self-assembled into three-dimensional (3D) interconnected networks, in which the TTF is loaded onto the rGO nanosheets. The electrochemical performance of the GTTF aerogels was assessed using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements in a 1M aqueous Na₂SO₄ electrolyte. The TTF-to-rGO ratio of the aerogel material significantly affected the electrochemical performance of the aerogel electrodes, and the GTTF aerogels prepared with 20wt% TTF (denoted GTTF-20) exhibited excellent electrochemical performance. The maximum specific capacitance of this aerogel electrode was 178F/g at a current density of 1A/g. The GTTF-20 aerogel also exhibited good electrochemical stability with a capacitance degradation of less than 10% after 3000cycles. We can deduce that the electrochemical performance of the as-prepared aerogels may be enhanced by increasing the chemical interactions between rGO and TiO₂. The results indicate that the GTTF aerogels show enormous potential for application in energy storage devices.

Visible light-induced photocatalytic activity of high surface area N-doped two-dimensional (2-D) TiO2 sheets

Nitrogen-doped two-dimensional TiO₂ sheets prepared by a titanate route using urea as the precursor for nitrogen for visible light photocatalysis.