Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic Activity
For this study, the synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> nanomaterials was performed via a novel sol-gel method employing titanium butoxide as a metal precursor, Pluronic F127 as a templating agent, toluene as a swelling agent, and acidic water or ethanol as the reaction solvents. The method was...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/13/1928 |
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| author | Carla Calabrese Amélie Maertens Alessandra Piras Carmela Aprile Leonarda Francesca Liotta |
| author_facet | Carla Calabrese Amélie Maertens Alessandra Piras Carmela Aprile Leonarda Francesca Liotta |
| author_sort | Carla Calabrese |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For this study, the synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> nanomaterials was performed via a novel sol-gel method employing titanium butoxide as a metal precursor, Pluronic F127 as a templating agent, toluene as a swelling agent, and acidic water or ethanol as the reaction solvents. The method was designed by tailoring certain reaction parameters, such as the sequence of toluene addition, magnetic stirring, the type of reaction solvent, and the calcination conditions. Analysis of the specific surface area and porosity was carried out via N<sub>2</sub> physisorption, whereas the morphological features of the solids were investigated via transmission electron microscopy. The crystalline structure of both the dried powders and the calcined materials was evaluated using X-ray diffraction analysis. It transpired that the different phase compositions of the solids are related to the specific synthesis medium employed. Under the adopted reaction conditions, ethanol, which was used as a reaction solvent, promoted the local arrangement of dispersed anatase particles, the specific arrangement of which does not lead to rutile transformation. Conversely, the use of water alone supported high-particle packing, evolving into a rutile phase. The photodegradation of Rhodamine B was used as a target reaction for testing the photocatalytic activity of the selected samples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:33:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c94e12a3d07144eb8d3b09e0863957e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:33:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-c94e12a3d07144eb8d3b09e0863957e62023-11-18T17:11:27ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-06-011313192810.3390/nano13131928Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic ActivityCarla Calabrese0Amélie Maertens1Alessandra Piras2Carmela Aprile3Leonarda Francesca Liotta4Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials (ISMN)-CNR, via Ugo La Malfa, 153, 90146 Palermo, ItalyUnit of Nanomaterials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Namur, NISM, Rue de Bruxelles, 61-5000 Namur, BelgiumUnit of Nanomaterials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Namur, NISM, Rue de Bruxelles, 61-5000 Namur, BelgiumUnit of Nanomaterials Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Namur, NISM, Rue de Bruxelles, 61-5000 Namur, BelgiumInstitute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials (ISMN)-CNR, via Ugo La Malfa, 153, 90146 Palermo, ItalyFor this study, the synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> nanomaterials was performed via a novel sol-gel method employing titanium butoxide as a metal precursor, Pluronic F127 as a templating agent, toluene as a swelling agent, and acidic water or ethanol as the reaction solvents. The method was designed by tailoring certain reaction parameters, such as the sequence of toluene addition, magnetic stirring, the type of reaction solvent, and the calcination conditions. Analysis of the specific surface area and porosity was carried out via N<sub>2</sub> physisorption, whereas the morphological features of the solids were investigated via transmission electron microscopy. The crystalline structure of both the dried powders and the calcined materials was evaluated using X-ray diffraction analysis. It transpired that the different phase compositions of the solids are related to the specific synthesis medium employed. Under the adopted reaction conditions, ethanol, which was used as a reaction solvent, promoted the local arrangement of dispersed anatase particles, the specific arrangement of which does not lead to rutile transformation. Conversely, the use of water alone supported high-particle packing, evolving into a rutile phase. The photodegradation of Rhodamine B was used as a target reaction for testing the photocatalytic activity of the selected samples.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/13/1928titaniumporous nanoparticlessol-gel synthesisanataserutilephotocatalysis |
| spellingShingle | Carla Calabrese Amélie Maertens Alessandra Piras Carmela Aprile Leonarda Francesca Liotta Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic Activity Nanomaterials titanium porous nanoparticles sol-gel synthesis anatase rutile photocatalysis |
| title | Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic Activity |
| title_full | Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic Activity |
| title_fullStr | Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic Activity |
| title_short | Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic Activity |
| title_sort | novel sol gel synthesis of tio sub 2 sub spherical porous nanoparticles assemblies with photocatalytic activity |
| topic | titanium porous nanoparticles sol-gel synthesis anatase rutile photocatalysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/13/1928 |
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