Low temperature hydrothermal synthesis of monodispersed flower-like titanate nanosheets

Monodispersed flower-like titanate superstructure was successfully prepared by simple hydrothermal process without any surfactant or template. N-2-sorption analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) observation of as-synthesized product revealed the formation of flower-like titanate with diameter of about 250-450 nm and BET surface area (S-BET) of 350.7 m(2) g(-1). Upon thermal treatment at 500 degrees C. the titanate nanosheets were converted into anatase TiO2 with moderate deformation of their structures. The as-prepared flower-like titanate showed high photocatalytic activity for H-2 evolution from water splitting reaction. Moreover, the sample heat treated at 500 degrees C exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than that of commercial TiO2 anatase powder (ST-01). (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.