Fabrication and photocatalytical properties of flower-like TiO2 nanostructures

Three-dimensional (3D) flower-like anatase TiO2 nanostructures and flower-like titanate nanostructures were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal synthesis followed by post-treatment from titanium powder. The flower-like anatase TiO2 nanostructures were characterized in detail with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectrum and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurement, respectively. It is found that the flower-like TiO2 nanostructures have a high specific surface area and a large light-harvesting efficiency. The photocatalytical activity of the flower-like anatase TiO2 nanostructures was determined by degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution, and was compared with commercial P25 titania. It is revealed that the photocatalytical activity of the flower-like anatase TiO2 nanostructures is enhanced a lot. The apparent rate constant of the flower-like anatase TiO2 nanostructures is almost 2 times that of P25 titania.