Facile synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic performance of dahlia-like TiO2 structures via an EDA-assisted hydrothermal method

Novel dahlia-like TiO2 structures were successfully synthesized by an ethylenediamine (EDA)-assisted hydrothermal method. The EDA served as ligand and facilitated the growth of dahlia-like TiO2 structures. Particularly, the dahlia-like TiO2 structures were built by two-dimensional (2D) thin nanosheets, which interconnected with each other. In addition, the dahlia-like TiO2 structures own relatively large specific surface areas of 158.85 m(2)/g. Furthermore, the dahlia-like TiO2 structures exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than that of commercial P25 for degradation of Rhodamine under UV light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is due to the synergetic effect of the architecture and high BET surface area of the photocatalyst.