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Facile synthesis of high-temperature (1000 °C) phase-stable rice-like anatase TiO2 nanocrystals

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Abstract

High-temperature phase-stable rice-like anatase TiO2 nanocrystals were synthesized by one-pot solvothermal method using soluble titania xerogel and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the precursor and the solvent, respectively. Sample characterization was carried out by powder X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The results showed that TiO2 nanocrystals had rice-like shapes with an average size of 5 nm in width and 35 nm in length. The BET surface area was 153 m2/g. Unexpectedly, the rice-like TiO2 nanocrystals exhibited high-temperature phase stability, which could remain as pure anatase phase after calcinations at 1000 °C. Growth mechanism investigation revealed that the IPA solvent played a key role in nucleation and growth of rice-like anatase TiO2 nanocrystals. The photodegradation of rhodamine B demonstrated that rice-like anatase TiO2 nanocrystals exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51203094), the Joint program of Beijing Natural Science Foundation and Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (No. L140005), Beijing NOVA Program (Z131101000413038), and Beijing Local College Innovation Team Improve Plan (IDHT20140512).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory for Optical Materials and Photonic Devices, Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China

    Lizhen Lv, Xiuyun Liu, Miaomiao Wang & Xiangfu Meng

  2. Beijing Center for Physical and Chemical Analysis (BCPCA), Beijing, 100089, China

    Qirong Chen

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  1. Lizhen Lv
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  2. Qirong Chen
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  3. Xiuyun Liu
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  4. Miaomiao Wang
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  5. Xiangfu Meng
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Correspondence to Xiangfu Meng.

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Lv, L., Chen, Q., Liu, X. et al. Facile synthesis of high-temperature (1000 °C) phase-stable rice-like anatase TiO2 nanocrystals. J Nanopart Res 17, 222 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3028-z

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