Nanoheterostructures on TiO2 nanobelts achieved by acid hydrothermal method with enhanced photocatalytic and gas sensitive performance

Nanoheterostructures of TiO2 nanoparticles/TiO2 nanobelts and Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles/TiO2 nanobelts are prepared by the acid-assisted hydrothermal method followed by an in situ photoreduction process. The experimental parameters, including acid corrosion time and calcination temperature, are investigated in detail. Compared with TiO2 nanobelts, the single nanoheterostructure TiO2 nanoparticles/TiO2 nanobelts have a better photocatalytic activity. The double nanoheterostructure Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles/TiO2 nanobelts can further dramatically enhance photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanobelts. The mechanisms for formation of the heterostructure and the enhanced photocatalytic effect of the heterostructure are discussed. The liquid continuous-flow photocatalysis based on TiO2 nanobelt nanopaper with different heterostructures is carried out, which has an efficient photocatalytic ability. At the same time, the obtained TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures have a good gas sensitive performance for ethanol.