TY - JOUR
T1 - Microwave-assisted ionic liquid synthesis of Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 hollow nanocrystals with enhanced visible-light photoactivity
AU - Chen, Yu
AU - Li, Weizun
AU - Wang, Jingyu
AU - Gan, Yalan
AU - Liu, Le
AU - Ju, Meiting
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2016/8/15
Y1 - 2016/8/15
N2 - The realization of Ti3+ self-doping and exposure of a hollow structure in TiO2 photocatalysts has been proven to be an effective approach for significantly improving their photocatalytic performance. Herein, a facile and green strategy that consists of microwave-assisted ionic liquid synthesis followed by a vacuum-activation process is developed for synthesizing highly active Ti3+ self-doping TiO2 with a hollow structure. The results of X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, fluorescence spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed that the presence of the ionic liquid [Bmim][BF4] acted not only as a microwave absorbent for the solvothermal process but also as a morphology-controlling agent via a dissolution-recrystallization process, leading to a mesoporous structure. Moreover, the subsequent vacuum calcination process modified the TiO2 to provide highly air-stable Ti3+ and oxygen vacancies. Compared with the benchmark material P25 and other TiO2 nanostructures synthesized using [Bmim]Cl and different molar ratios of [Bmim][BF4], the Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 with a hollow structure was used as an efficient photocatalyst, and it exhibited a 4.6-fold enhancement in photocatalytic activity for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol due to its enhanced visible-light absorption, efficient molecular oxygen adsorption ability and improved charge-separation efficiency under visible-light irradiation. Furthermore, the unique disordered core/ordered shell protects the TiO2-x nanoparticle core from further oxidation and effectively blocks oxidation between the Ti3+ and dissolved oxygen in the solvent, thereby allowing long-term recycling stability. The possible reaction mechanism for the photocatalytic selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol over Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 hollow nanocrystals has also been investigated. The results obtained in this study may shed light on improving the photoactivity in fabricating defective TiO2 and defect-based nanostructures and their applications in solar energy conversion.
AB - The realization of Ti3+ self-doping and exposure of a hollow structure in TiO2 photocatalysts has been proven to be an effective approach for significantly improving their photocatalytic performance. Herein, a facile and green strategy that consists of microwave-assisted ionic liquid synthesis followed by a vacuum-activation process is developed for synthesizing highly active Ti3+ self-doping TiO2 with a hollow structure. The results of X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, fluorescence spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed that the presence of the ionic liquid [Bmim][BF4] acted not only as a microwave absorbent for the solvothermal process but also as a morphology-controlling agent via a dissolution-recrystallization process, leading to a mesoporous structure. Moreover, the subsequent vacuum calcination process modified the TiO2 to provide highly air-stable Ti3+ and oxygen vacancies. Compared with the benchmark material P25 and other TiO2 nanostructures synthesized using [Bmim]Cl and different molar ratios of [Bmim][BF4], the Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 with a hollow structure was used as an efficient photocatalyst, and it exhibited a 4.6-fold enhancement in photocatalytic activity for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol due to its enhanced visible-light absorption, efficient molecular oxygen adsorption ability and improved charge-separation efficiency under visible-light irradiation. Furthermore, the unique disordered core/ordered shell protects the TiO2-x nanoparticle core from further oxidation and effectively blocks oxidation between the Ti3+ and dissolved oxygen in the solvent, thereby allowing long-term recycling stability. The possible reaction mechanism for the photocatalytic selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol over Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 hollow nanocrystals has also been investigated. The results obtained in this study may shed light on improving the photoactivity in fabricating defective TiO2 and defect-based nanostructures and their applications in solar energy conversion.
KW - Anatase TiO nanocrystal
KW - Hollow structure
KW - Ionic liquid
KW - Photocatalysis
KW - Ti
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84961125916&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.03.021
DO - 10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.03.021
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AN - SCOPUS:84961125916
SN - 0926-3373
VL - 191
SP - 94
EP - 105
JO - Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
JF - Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
ER -