Fabrication and Photocatalytic Activity of Single Crystalline TiO2 Hierarchically Structured Microspheres

Single crystalline anatase TiO2 microspheres with co-exposed {001}/{101} facets were prepared by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method using NaF as a morphology controlling agent. The influences of the NaF amount on the morphology and also on the photocatalytic activity were investigated systematically. The obtained microspheres possessed better morphology when the concentration of NaF was chosen at 0.1 mol/L, and the experimental results indicated that the crystal structure and morphology played important roles on the photocatalytic activity, based on the experimental results it was found that the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of TiO2 microspheres on Tetracycline hydrochloride could reach 76.4% in 2 h. Finally, a growth mechanism was proposed by investigating the growth process, i.e., a synergistic effect of F ions modified Ostwald ripening and oriented attachment.

Automated summary

Single crystalline anatase TiO2 microspheres with {001}/{101} facets were synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method using NaF as a morphology controlling agent. The effects of NaF amount on morphology and photocatalytic activity were systematically investigated. Results showed that microspheres with improved morphology were obtained at a NaF concentration of 0.1 mol/L. Furthermore, the crystal structure and morphology were found to play significant roles in the photocatalytic activity, with TiO2 microspheres achieving a degradation efficiency of 76.4% for Tetracycline hydrochloride within 2 hours. A growth mechanism involving F ion modified Ostwald ripening and oriented attachment was proposed based on the investigation of the growth process.