Direct fabrication of anatase TiO2 hollow microspheres for applications in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and lithium storage

Hollow titanium dioxide (TiO2) microspheres were synthesized in one step by employing tetrabutyl orthotitanate (TBOT) as a precursor through a facile solvothermal method in the presence of NH4HCO3. XRD analysis indicated that anatase TiO2 can be obtained directly without further annealing. TiO2 hollow microspheres with diameters in the range of 1.0–4.0 μm were confirmed through SEM and TEM measurements. The specific surface area was measured to be 180 m2 g−1 according to the nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. Superior photocatalytic performance and good lithium storage properties were achieved for resultant TiO2 samples. The H2 evolution rate of the optimal sample is about 0.66 mmol h−1 after loaded with 1 wt.% Pt (20 mg samples). The reversible capacity remained 143 mAh g−1 at a specific current of 300 mA g−1 after 100 charge–discharge cycles. This work provides a facile strategy for the preparation of hollow titanium dioxide microspheres and demonstrates their promising photocatalytic H2 evolution and the lithium storage properties.