Citrate/F− assisted phase control synthesis of TiO2 nanostructures and their photocatalytic properties†
Abstract
A novel and controlled sol-hydrothermal synthesis of nano-TiO2 assisted by citrate/F− has been developed. We studied factors that influence its size and morphology, such as citrate, Cl−, F− and so on. Different ratios of citrate to TiCl4 gave different sizes and morphologies. Cl− preferentially formed a rutile phase, while citrate preferentially formed an anatase phase, and F− gave a dominant {001} facet. Additionally, we found that the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 synthesised with the assistance of citrate was superior to the commercially available TiO2.