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Synthesis of Black TiO x Nanoparticles by Mg Reduction of TiO 2 Nanocrystals and their Application for Solar Water Evaporation
Author(s) -
Ye Miaomiao,
Jia Jia,
Wu Zhejian,
Qian Chenxi,
Chen Rong,
O'Brien Paul G.,
Sun Wei,
Dong Yuchan,
Ozin Geoffrey A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201601811
Subject(s) - materials science , chemical engineering , distilled water , aqueous solution , nanoparticle , contact angle , photocatalysis , nanotechnology , nuclear chemistry , composite material , catalysis , engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , chromatography
TiO x ( x < 2) nanoparticles with tunable colors from white to gray to blue–gray to black are synthesized by magnesium (Mg) reduction of white P25 TiO 2 nanocrystals followed by removal of excess Mg with aqueous HCl and distilled water. Increasing amounts of Mg smoothly decrease the oxygen content in TiO x which is responsible for the gradual increase in light absorption and concomitant darkening of its color from white to black with decreasing values of x . The as‐synthesized TiO x nanoparticles are spin‐coated onto the surface of a stainless steel mesh followed by surface superhydrophobization in order to test their performance as a solar water evaporator. Results from the tests show that the black TiO x efficiently generates water vapor with a solar thermal conversion efficiency as high as 50% under solar‐simulated light irradiance at an intensity of 1000 W m –2 (1 Sun). Moreover, TiO x nanoparticles have inherent advantages over other materials used for solar water desalination, such as their tunable light absorption, low‐cost, low‐toxicity, superhydrophobicity, and chemical stability.