Solvothermal Synthesis of Novel 3D Peony-Like TiO2 Microstructures and its Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

A TiO2 photocatalyst with peony-like microstructures and a large percentage of exposed {001} facets was synthesized using a facile solvethermal method. The peony-like TiO2 was obtained using HF as a capping agent, TiCl4 as the precursor and ethanol as the solvothermal agent. The parameters which influence the mophology and formation mechanism of the products including the HF concentration, the reaction time and temperature and the solvothermal solvent, were investigated. The samples were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and N-2 adsorption and desorption analysis. As the reaction time or reaction temperature increased, the morphology TiO2 changed from hexagonally assembled microspheres to peony-like microflowers which were composed of stacks of ultrathin nanosheets. The other reaction parameters also play a crucial role in the formation of the TiO2 microstuctures. Photocatalytic experiments showed that the synthesized TiO2 outperformed Degussa P25 in the photodegradation of methelene blue under a very weak UV light irradiation ( power: 8 W, light intensity: 0.4 mW cm (-1)).