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Remarkable Charge Separation and Photocatalytic Efficiency Enhancement through Interconnection of TiO 2 Nanoparticles by Hydrothermal Treatment
Author(s) -
Ide Yusuke,
Inami Nozomu,
Hattori Hideya,
Saito Kanji,
Sohmiya Minoru,
Tsunoji Nao,
Komaguchi Kenji,
Sano Tsuneji,
Bando Yoshio,
Golberg Dmitri,
Sugahara Yoshiyuki
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201510000
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , anatase , rutile , materials science , hydrothermal circulation , amorphous solid , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , charge carrier , optoelectronics , chemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , engineering
Although tremendous effort has been directed to synthesizing advanced TiO 2 , it remains difficult to obtain TiO 2 exhibiting a photocatalytic efficiency higher than that of P25, a benchmark photocatalyst. P25 is composed of anatase, rutile, and amorphous TiO 2 particles, and photoexcited electron transfer and subsequent charge separation at the anatase–rutile particle interfaces explain its high photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, we report on a facile and rational hydrothermal treatment of P25 to selectively convert the amorphous component into crystalline TiO 2 , which is deposited between the original anatase and rutile particles to increase the particle interfaces and thus enhance charge separation. This process produces a new TiO 2 exhibiting a considerably enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. This method of synthesizing this TiO 2 , inspired by a recently burgeoning zeolite design, promises to make TiO 2 applications more feasible and effective.