Crystalline phase regulation of anatase–rutile TiO2 for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Biphasic TiO₂ with adjustable crystalline phases was prepared by the hydrothermal-calcination method assisted by nitric acid (HNO₃) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), using potassium titanate oxalate (K₂TiO(C₂O₄)₂) as the titanium source. The influences of H₂O₂ volume on anatase and rutile contents and photocatalytic activity of biphasic TiO₂ were investigated and the photocatalytic mechanism was explored. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) and specific surface area (BET) were employed to characterize crystal structure, physical morphology, absorbable light, chemical composition, specific surface area and pore size distribution. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency towards a methylene blue (MB) solution under xenon light was tested, and the photocatalytic stability of the sample was investigated by photocatalytic cycle experiments. The prepared biphasic TiO₂ was nanorod-shaped and had a large specific surface area. The results showed the anatase TiO₂ content increased and the photocatalytic efficiency was enhanced as the H₂O₂ volume solution increased. Among the catalysts, the biphasic TiO₂ prepared with 30 mL of H₂O₂ had the best photocatalytic effect and could entirely degrade the MB solution after 30 minutes under irradiation. After three repeated degradations, the photocatalytic degradation rate was still estimated to be as high as 95%. It is expected that the work will provide new insights into fabricating heterophase junctions of TiO₂ for environmental remediation.