Uniform anatase single-crystal cubes with high thermal stability fully enclosed by active {010} and {001} facets

Abstract

In order to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂, synthesis of well-faceted single crystals of anatase TiO₂ with a high percentage of reactive facets exposed has attracted much attention due to its fascinating surface atomic configuration. In this study, large anatase single crystal cubes with {001} and {010} facets exposed were prepared for the first time via a facile microwave-assisted method. The preparation involved an aqueous solution of titanium tetrachloride, ionic liquid (1-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate), and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as titanium precursor, facet-directing agent, and surfactant, respectively. It is demonstrated that these single-crystalline TiO₂ crystals with cubic morphology showed better photocatalytic performance than decahedral anatase TiO₂ due to the high density of unsaturated surface Ti_5c atoms on cubic TiO₂.