Acidic ionic liquids: an alternative to HF for {001} reactive facet controlled synthesis of anatase titania

Abstract

This is a report on the facet controlled synthesis of TiO₂, which has been achieved using the acidic room temperature ionic liquids (AILs) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate and 3-methyl-1-(3-sulfonyl propyl)imidazolium trifluoro methane sulphonate as the templating and hydrolysing agents. The effect of the change of concentration of the AIL, amount of the AIL and calcination temperature demonstrated good phase control and a higher number of exposed {001} facets in the TiO₂ nanocatalysts with a higher photocatalytic activity.